# NTSB LAX86MA050: Bell 206L-1, N3913Z, San Pedro, CA, December 1, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 1985, 16:38 local (Dec 1, 1985, 00:38 UTC) - Place: San Pedro, CA - Location: 33.7359° N, 118.2923° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Pedro, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7359&lon=-118.2923&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 4 serious, 7 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 25274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86MA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25274/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86MA050 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - inadequate (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, other person (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, other institution (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - airport/facilities - inadequate (contributing factor) - airport/facilities - congested (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - go-around - performed, pilot in command - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - Roll over, landing - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - passenger briefing - inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - inadequate (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, other person (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, other institution (contributing factor) - inadequate surveillance of operation, faa(organization) (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - airport/facilities - inadequate (contributing factor) - airport/facilities - congested (contributing factor) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - go-around - performed, pilot of other aircraft - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N3913Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3913Z-1988-05-02), registration cancelled 1988-05-02, S/N 45650 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45650 - Airframe hours: 2741 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5759Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5759Y-1991-03-29), registration cancelled 1991-03-29, S/N 45563 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1 - Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 45563 - Airframe hours: 2479 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3913Z; age 28; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N5759Y; age 43; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19851130058341A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851130058341A), Nov 30, 1985: Bell 206L1, San Pedro, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Struck by main rotor blades of N5759Y on final. Did not announce a 360 degree turn before final. - [Accident 19851130058342A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851130058342A), Nov 30, 1985: Bell 206L1, San Pedro, CA, Destroyed. Caught up with and collided with helicopter 3913Z because the other helicopter made a 360 degree turn before final. 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.