# NTSB LAX81FA070: Bell 206B, N59590, Santa Monica, CA, April 7, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: April 7, 1981
- Place: Santa Monica, CA · SANTA MONICA, CA
- Location: 34.0109° N, 118.4982° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Monica, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0109&lon=-118.4982&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127081
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA070
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA070

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0905   81/4/7    SANTA MONICA,CA     BELL 206B           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 4901
        TIME - 1535                    N59590              PX-  0  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 954 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - SANTA MONICA MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SANTA MONICA,CA             LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: VERTICAL
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: LINES AND FITTINGS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY INSTALLED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER CLEARANCE-TOLERANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OBSTRUCTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL STARVATION
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- HI PRESS FUEL FILTER INLET ELBOW FITTING,AN833-5J,INSTALLED TO EXCESSIVE DEPTH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59590](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59590-1985-03-18), registration cancelled 1985-03-18, S/N 1469 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: none
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Santa Monica Muni

## 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 19810407020439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810407020439A), Apr 7, 1981: Bell 206B, Santa Monica, CA, Destroyed. Engine failed on takeoff climb due to reduced fuel flow from an incorrectly installed fuel filter elbow fitting.

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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