- Date
- August 31, 1988, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Barrett Junct., CA
- Injuries
- 4 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N74WHBell 206L-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 21, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880831036309A
- Case key
- 26095
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
While descending into a canyon, the aircraft struck powerlines, went into an uncontrolled descent and collided with the terrain. The pilot stated that he could not see the powerlines and that his visibility was restricted by the sun. All four passengers indicated that they did not see the powerlines prior to the collision.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N74WH
- Reported as
- Bell 206L-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45379
- Airframe hours
- 4,749
- Engine
- Allison 250-C28B, 435 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Western Helicopter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 24, 1988
- Departed
- SEE · Gillespie, CA
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,343 total · 650 in this make and model · 4,893 as pilot in command · 113 in the last 90 days · 62 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SDM, 15 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.