# NTSB LAX81FA093: Sikorsky S-55, N874, Beaumont, CA, May 29, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 29, 1981
- Place: Beaumont, CA · BEAUMONT, CA
- Location: 33.9295° N, 116.9772° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Beaumont, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9295&lon=-116.9772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125305
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FA093
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FA093

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2413  81/5/29  NR.BEAUMONT, CA       SIKORSKY S-55       CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 2359                    N874                PX-  5  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            44, 7013 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            1089 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN GORGONIO, CA            SAN BERNADINO, CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          PARTIAL OBSCURATION                                      UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       63
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          260                                                       2
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- 4 SEP STUDIES DETERMINED BLD ALC LVL APPX .08% BUT COULD NOT AGREE ON LVL OF ALC PRIOR TO ACCIDENT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N874](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N874-2013-03-11), registration cancelled 2013-03-11, S/N 551004, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-55
- Registry model: [Sikorsky S-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-55) (registry code 8141602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19810529030949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810529030949A), May 29, 1981: Skrsky S55, Banning, CA, Destroyed, 5 fatal. Struck top of hill obscured by night and fog. Not IFR helicopter rated. Failed to check weather. Had drunk alcohol.

## Other investigations on N874 (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 ANC66A0052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC66A0052), Jun 29, 1966: Sikorsky S55 (N874), Kenai, AK, substantial damage

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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