# NTSB LAX06LA220: Bell 206B, N205LA, Chino Hills, CA, June 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2006, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Chino Hills, CA - Coordinates: 33.900276, -117.667221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9003&lon=-117.6672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Bell Helicopters, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64000 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64000/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA220 ## Probable cause A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot was flying for a local news service when he heard a loud bang, and made an off-airport precautionary landing. After landing, he reduced the throttle setting to ground idle and locked the flight controls. He exited the helicopter and attempted to locate the source of the noise he had heard. The pilot stated that he found nothing wrong and re-entered the helicopter to resume the flight. After he brought the helicopter into a hover and started to transition into forward flight, the helicopter rolled to the left and impacted the ground. An examination of the helicopter systems revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions, failures, or damage which would explain the loss of control. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 28, 2006, about 0800 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N205LA, rolled to the left, and impacted the ground near Chino Hills, California, during a takeoff from an off-airport landing site. TSR Helicopters was operating the traffic watch helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and the news reporter passenger sustained minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local traffic watch flight departed Van Nuys, California . Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. During a telephone interview the pilot reported that while conducting an aerial observation flight for a local news service, he heard a loud bang. The pilot elected to make an off-airport precautionary landing on a hilltop located in the Chino Hills State Park. After landing, the pilot reduced the throttle setting to ground idle, and locked the flight controls. He exited the helicopter, and attempted to locate the source of the noise he had heard. The pilot stated he found nothing wrong, and re-entered the helicopter to resume the flight. After he brought the helicopter into a hover and started to transition into forward flight, the helicopter rolled to the left and impacted the ground. During the accident sequence the main rotor blades and hub separated from the mast and the tail boom separated from the fuselage. The helicopter was recovered from the accident site for further examination. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The operator reported that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a helicopter rating. The 41 year old pilot held a second-class medical certificate issued on November 18, 2005. It had limitations that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. The operator reported that the pilot had a total flight time of 2,171 hours. He logged 62 hours in the last 90 days, and 30 in the last 30 days. He had an estimated 1,965 hours in this make and model, and had completed a flight review on November 10, 2004. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The helicopter was a Bell B206B, serial number 2322. A review of the helicopter's logbooks revealed a total airframe time of 9,419 hours at the time of the accident. The last annual inspection was completed on June 07, 2006. The engine was a Rolls-Royce/Allison, 250 C20B, serial number CAE8004678F. Total time recorded on the engine at the time of the accident was 8,776.9 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest official weather observation station was Chino Airport, Chino, California (CNO), which was located 5 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 652 feet msl. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for CNO was issued at 0753 PDT. It stated: winds were calm; visibility 4 miles; skies clear; temperature 26 degrees Celsius; dew point 15 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.97 inHg. TESTS AND RESEARCH Investigators examined the wreckage at Aircraft Recovery Service, Littlerock, California, on July 18, 2006. Examination of the airframe, flight control system, driveline, fuel system, and the main rotor and tail rotor systems were inconclusive and no pre-impact damage or system failures were noted. The three hydraulic servos were removed and transported to Helicopter Accessory Service, Inc. (HAS) located in Sun Valley, California. Two of the servos, (Serial No. RH-1674 & RH-1454) exhibited mechanical damage consistent with impact damage. The examination revealed no pre-impact damage or abnormalities. HAS determined the servos were functionally operational. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N205LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205LA-2007-08-28), registration cancelled 2007-08-28, S/N 2322, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250 SER 250HP](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-250hp) (registry code 03002, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2322 - Airframe hours: 9419 - Engines: Rolls Royce Allison 250 C20B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: TSR Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Briles Wing & Helicopter Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: minor; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 2,171 total, 1,965 in this make and model, 2,085 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 5 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 20060628013359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060628013359A), Jun 28, 2006: Bell 206B, Chino, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was flying eastbound @ highway 91 (near crosspoint: tollroad 241) when he heard a loud bang. He turned north and landed @ five minutes later on a… 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.