- Date
- June 30, 1983, 12:05 local (19:05 UTC)
- Place
- Ocotillo, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1WABell 204B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 23771
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was on an external load operation to airlift loads of cement. The cement was being poured for base pilings for power line towers on rough terrain. While carrying a 3100 lb load of cement on a 40 ft line, the helicopter had just moved to a position to start pouring. While stablized in a hover, the plt heard 3 compressor stalls. The helicopter yawed & began losing altitude. The plt moved the acft forward for the safety of workers below. The plt continued forward, released the external load, continued an autorotation into a ravine & landed on soft, uneven ground. Prior to touchdown, the helicopter began making uncontrollable turns. The main rotor struck a large boulder. Shortly after landing, a fire erupted in the eng compartment which subsequently cosumed the helicopter. An exam of the wreckage, including the eng, revealed no preimpact, mechanical problem. The pinion gear of the 90 deg gear box exhibited some backlash wear. The elevation of the crash site was aprx 3000 ft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1WA
- Reported as
- Bell 204B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 2065
- Airframe hours
- 9,566
- Engine
- Lycoming T53-13B, 1,300 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Registered owner
- Wright Airlift International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 17, 1983 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- Jacumba, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 4,800 total · 350 in this make and model · 200 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 225° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg