- Date
- January 18, 1985, 10:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Newhall, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N830VBell 205A-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850118000969A
- Case key
- 24459
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
This helicopter collided with hilly terrain while circling at a low altitude. It was following another helicopter in a clockwise circular pattern at the time, and being filmed for the t.v. series 'air wolf'. One witness observed the helicopter decending in the final turn, instead of leveling off, until it was very close to the ground. As it approached a small knoll ground contact occurred. The engine was heard running for several seconds after impact. Post impact fire was the cause of the death of the passenger.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N830V
- Reported as
- Bell 205A-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 30037
- Airframe hours
- 1,237
- Engine
- Lycoming T3313 B, 1,250 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Jetcopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 1984 · 41 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,573 total · 1,320 in this make and model · 2,453 as pilot in command · 133 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VNY, 12 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.