- Date
- April 12, 1985, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Berryessa, CA
- Injuries
- 4 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N2925WBell 206B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850412014989A
- Case key
- 24691
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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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 a low level, eagle survey mission. While cruising between 20 & 30 mph, the plt flew up a canyon & was crossing a ridge at about 150 ft AGL when he saw wires ahead. He took evasive action, but the helicopter struck the wires. The tail rotor & gear box were torn from the helicopter & it began spinning. The plt tried to lower the collective & retard the throttle to stop the spin, but had no throttle or collective control. Subsequently, the helicopter crash landed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2925W
- Reported as
- Bell 206B
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 206B
- Airframe hours
- 14,848
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Horizon Helicopter, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Dennis Webster
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Lake Berryessa, CA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,800 total · 580 in this make and model · 8,600 as pilot in command · 190 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.