- Date
- November 30, 1985, 16:38 local (Dec 1, 1985, 00:38 UTC)
- Place
- San Pedro, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 4 serious, 7 minor
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19851130058341A19851130058342A
- Case key
- 25274
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
Two bell 206L'S (N3913Z oprd by helitrans, N5759Y oprd by island express) deptd avalon 2 min apart on flts to San Pedro. Arr route at destn was ovr a RVR with angling fnl acph arnd a floating restaurant (fr). Heliport (HP) was in congested area nr bridge, bldg, boat dock. Each plt made reqd rdo call on UNICOM freq, 2.5 mi out; chngd to 123.30 mhz btn RVR mouth & HP to chk on flying at another opr's location; chngd back to UNICOM; except plt of N5759Y also chkd in on his cofreq. As 1st flt (N3913Z) arr, boat was docking, plt made go-arnd, but didn't make rdo call. As N3913Z was on 2nd apch, N5759Y converged fm drctn of setting sun in l turn arnd fr & acft collided. Neither plt called fnl apch. N5759Y crashed in wtr; N3913Z hit edge of HP, rolled ovr. Pax in N5759Y had prblm egressing; inadeq briefing bfr flt. HP owner (la portauthority) didn't provide rstrctns of oprg permits to oprs. Oprs didn't abide by HP owner's 5 min sepn rule. Min ovrsghtby FAA & CA dept of aeronautics. Plt of 3913Z lacked 10 hrs of reqd trng. The HP was certified for seaplane opn.
Two bell 206'S (N3913Z oprd by helitrans, N5759Y oprd by island express) deptd avalon 2 min apart on flts to San Pedro. Arr route at destn was ovr a RVR with angling fnl apch arnd a floating restaurant (fr). Heliport (HP) was in congested area nr bridge, bldg, boat dock. Each plt made reqd rdo call on UNICOM freq, 2.5 mi out; chngd to 123.30 mhz btn RVR mouth & HP to chk on flying at another opr's location; chngd back to UNICOM; except plt of N5759Y also chkd in on his cofreq. As 1st flt (N3913Z) arr, boat was docking; plt made go-arnd, but didn't make rdo call. As N3913Z was on 2nd apch, N5759Y converged fm drctn of setting sun in l turn arnd fr & acft collided. Neither plt called fnl apch. N5759Y crashed in wtr; N3913Z hit edge of HP, rolled ovr. Pax in N5759Y had prblm egressing; inadeq briefing bfr flt. HP owner (la portauthority) didn't provide rstrctns of oprg permits to oprs. Oprs didn't abide by HP owner's 5 min sepn rule. Min ovrsghtby FAA & CA dept of aeronautics. Plt of N3913Z lacked 10 hrs of reqd trng. The HP was certified for seaplane opn.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N3913Z
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45650
- Airframe hours
- 2,741
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 435 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Helitrans, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Podesta-Moller Associates
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · November 15, 1985 · 41 hours before
- Departed
- L11 · Avalon, CA
- Destination
- 6CA3
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- LCA3 · San Pedro Helistop
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.
- Registration
- N5759Y
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45563
- Airframe hours
- 2,479
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 435 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Island Express, Inc.
- Registered owner
- R. S. Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 30, 1985 · 79 hours before
- Departed
- L11 · Avalon, CA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- LCA3 · San Pedro Helistop
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3913Z
- Age
- 28
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 4,578 total · 996 in this make and model · 4,433 as pilot in command · 241 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N5759Y
- Age
- 43
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,600 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 4,900 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LGB, 7 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.