# NTSB LAX00LA242: Worldwide Aero AEROS-40B, N819AC, San Bernadino, CA, June 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2000, 08:05 local (15:05 UTC) - Place: San Bernadino, CA - Coordinates: 36.116138, -119.681152 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1161&lon=-119.6812&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 49558 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49558/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA242 ## Probable cause The ground crew's diverted attention toward the landing airship while trying to catch a mooring rope, which resulted in their failure to detect an immenient collision with each other. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, landing - diverted attention, ground personnel (cause) - unsafe/hazardous condition - not recognized, ground personnel (cause) ## Analysis The twin engine airship was landing, and there were two ground crew assigned to catch the mooring rope and assist with the blimp landing. As the blimp neared the landing area, one of the ground handlers caught the nose line and the other ground handler ran to assist the first ground handler, who was running with the nose mooring rope to slow the airship. Both of the ground handlers collided with one another during this process and the second one fell backward and hit his head on the concrete ramp, which resulted in fatal head injuries. The ground crew personnel were not wearing helmets at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2000, at 0805 hours Pacific daylight time, a ground handler for a Worldwide Aero Aeros-40B twin engine blimp, N819AC, was fatally injured while attempting to recover the airship at San Bernardino, California. The blimp, operated by Airship USA, Inc., as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91, was not damaged, nor were the pilot, co-pilot, or any of the remaining ground crewmembers injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The instructional flight to familiarize the co-pilot with the airship handling characteristics had originated from San Bernardino International Airport about 0730 on the morning of the accident, and was terminating when the accident occurred. According to a written statement provided by the pilot, she was demonstrating a lighter than neutral landing for her student. There were two ground crew assigned to catch the mooring rope and assist with the airship landing. As the blimp neared the landing area, one of the ground handlers (listed as number 1 for the purposes of this report) caught the nose line and the other ground crew (listed as number 2 for the purposes of this report) ran to assist ground handler number 1, who was running with the nose rope to slow the airship. Ground handler number 2 realized that he was on a collision course with ground handler number 1 and "began running backward to avoid being hit." Ground handler number 2 then stumbled, fell and hit his head on the concrete apron. Ground handler number 1 immediately launched the airship back into the air so he could attend to ground handler number 2. A local ambulance was called and the ground handler was taken to the hospital. According to the San Bernardino International Airport Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, ground handler number 1 stated that ground handler number 2 ran into him while trying to grab the rope. The collision caused ground handler number 2 to fall and hit his head. The NTSB conducted a telephone interview with ground handler number 1 on October 3, 2002. During the telephone conversation, he stated that ground handler number 2 was running and tripped, which caused him to fall backward and hit his head. According to family members, the ground handler died as a result of his injuries on July 11, 2000. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot recommended that the ground crew wear helmets. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N819AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N819AC-2017-02-16), registration cancelled 2017-02-16, S/N A40B-17, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Worldwide Aero Corp AEROS-40B - Registry model: [Worldwide Aeros AEROS-40B](https://openairdocs.org/model/worldwide-aeros-aeros-40b) (registry code 9140300) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Blimp - Serial number: 017 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating; Continental IO-240-B 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airship USA, Inc. - Registered owner: Worldwide Aeros - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 2000, 0.3 hours before - Departed: SBD, SAN BERNADINO, CA - Destination: SBD, SAN BERNADINO, CA - Airport: KSBD, San Bernadino ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 9,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 9,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; commercial, flight instructor ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 3 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: RIV, 11 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000628009179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000628009179A), Jun 28, 2000: Aeros AEROS540B, San Bernadino, CA, 1 fatal. (-23) During a landing capture operation of an airship, ground crew member Mr. Dean norsworthy collided with another ground crewman. Norsworthy was knocked… ## Other investigations on N819AC (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX01FA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01FA071), Jan 9, 2001: Worldwide Aeros 40B (N819AC), Oakland, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: One or both of the rear ballonet air relief valves remained in an open position for undetermined reasons, which caused an out-of-balance trim condition; also causal was the flight crew’s decision to… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.