# NTSB LAX81FVM29: Bell 206B, N39107, Nipomo, CA, September 11, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: September 11, 1981
- Place: Nipomo, CA · NIPOMO, CA
- Location: 35.0307° N, 120.4978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Nipomo, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0307&lon=-120.4978&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123245
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVM29
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVM29

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2342  81/9/11  NR.NIPOMO,CA          BELL 206B           CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 37, 1750
        TIME - 2000                    N39107              PX-  0  1  2  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 250 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          AVILA BEACH,CA              SANTA YNES,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- STRUCK PWR LN WHILE FLYING ALONG HWY AT DUSK.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N39107 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- 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 19810911058799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810911058799A), Sep 11, 1981: Bell 206B, Nipomo, CA, Destroyed. Helicopter hit high tension wires during low-level cruise under cloud layer at night.

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.
