# NTSB LAX73AL008: Bell 205-A1, N8119J, Ojai, CA, August 26, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 26, 1972
- Place: Ojai, CA · OJAI, CA
- Location: 34.4492° N, 119.2467° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ojai, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4492&lon=-119.2467&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal, 5 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 167978
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX73AL008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX73AL008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2890  72/8/26    OJAI,CALIF          BELL 205-A1         CR-  1  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 38, 3347
        TIME - 1441                    N8119J              PX-  5  4  0  ASSOC FIRE CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 718 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LION CAMP,CALIF             HINES PEAK,CALIF
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY: BLADE,COMPRESSOR ROTOR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - EXCESSIVE TEMPERATURE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: COMPRESSOR STALLS
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH TEMPERATURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      90
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ENG MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN COMPRESSOR STALL. CRASHED ON STEEP CANYON WALL. FLT TO FIRE LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8119J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8119J-1994-03-16), registration cancelled 1994-03-16, S/N 30085 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 205-A1
- Registry model: [Bell 205A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-205a-1) (registry code 1181414) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

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.

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