# NTSB LAX89LA270: Bell 206B, N90296, Bakersfield, CA, August 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1989, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Location: 35.3733° N, 119.0187° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bakersfield, CA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3733&lon=-119.0187&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26473
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89LA270
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26473/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89LA270

## Probable cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE HELICOPTER BEING FLOWN IN EXHAUST GASES EMANATING FROM A COGENERATION PLANT CHIMNEY STACK THAT EXCEEDED THE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS OF THE POWERPLANT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INVISIBLE NATURE OF THE EXHAUST GASES WHICH MADE THE DETECTION OF THEIR PRESENCE UNLIKELY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
  - miscellaneous - starvation (cause)
  - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - turboshaft engine - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - information unavailable, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - vehicle
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER CREW WAS FILMING A COGENERATION PLANT. THE HELICOPTER ORBITED THE PLANT THREE TIMES. DURING THE THIRD ORBIT, THE HELICOPTER PASSED OVER THE EXHAUST CHIMNEY OF THE PLANT WHICH WAS OPERATING AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE INDICATION THAT EXHAUST GASES WERE EMANATING FROM THE CHIMNEY. THE GASES WERE REPORTED TO BE 350 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH A 3.6 PERCENT OXYGEN CONTENT. THE HELICOPTER TURBOSHAFT ENGINE LOST POWER OVER THE CENTER OF THE CHIMNEY. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION TOWARDS AN OPEN AREA OF A PARKING LOT. DURING THE FLARE, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A VEHICLE, AND LANDED HARD, SEVERED THE TAILBOOM, AND ROLLED ON TO ITS SIDE. THE CERTIFICATION STANDARD FOR THE ENGINE WAS 120 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90296 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1738
- Airframe hours: 4424
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: National Helicopter Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 8, 1989, 98 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890809028339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890809028339A), Aug 9, 1989: Bell 206B, Bakersfield, CA, Destroyed. Flew low over chimney spouting hot gasses. Hot gasses overtempted engine causing failure. Struck vehicles landing.

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.

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