# NTSB LAX90FA170: Bell 206B, N75SH, Carmel Valley, CA, May 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 12, 1990, 18:10 local (May 13, 1990, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: Carmel Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 36.549911, -121.91938 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5499&lon=-121.9194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90FA170
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26627/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90FA170

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND IMPROPER CLIMB.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - light condition - daylight
  - climb - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A CLEAR AREA IN FRONT OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, AND HEADED TOWARD A VALLEY. THE HELICOPTER ACCELERATED IN GROUND EFFECT FOR ABOUT 370 FEET UTILIZING AN AIRSPEED OVER ALTITUDE DEPARTURE PROFILE. IT THEN FLEW DIRECTLY INTO AND SEVERED TWO DISTRIBUTION POWER LINES WHICH WERE LOCATED ABOUT FOUR FEET ABOVE THE ELEVATION OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. (THE POWER POLES WERE LOCATED AT LOWER ELEVATION TERRAIN.) THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TIP, CHIN BUBBLE AND THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WERE BROKEN DURING THE COLLISION, AND THE PILOT LOST CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER VEERED 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED ABOUT ONE- QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE LINES. THE POLES WHICH SUPPORTED THE LINES WERE LOCATED BEHIND TREES AND WERE NOT VISIBLE FROM THE TAKEOFF AREA. EARLIER IN THE DAY THE PILOT HAD MADE TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS OVER THE SAME AREA AND THE POLES/LINES WERE NOT NOTED, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL WIRE CUTTERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N75SH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75SH-2001-05-14), registration cancelled 2001-05-14, S/N 1719 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1719
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 370 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hendricks, Sidney J.
- Registered owner: Sidney J. Hendricks
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: 056, NOVATO, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 10,769 total, 411 in this make and model, 62 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MRY, 5 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900512015569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900512015569A), May 12, 1990: Bell 206B, Carmel Valley, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Nosed over to gain speed after liftoff and struck 30FOOT high wires. Causing uncontrolled crash and fire.

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.