- Date
- November 17, 1989, 09:19 local (17:19 UTC)
- Place
- Barstow, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1097GMcDonnell Douglas 369
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19891117045899A
- Case key
- 26685
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Improper planning/decision by the pilot, and his delay in jettisoning the load.
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
The plt began the external sling load operation-stringing wire conductors - abt 1 hr and 15 min before the accident. After flying 1 hr and 5 min the pilot landed and refueled the helicopter at a landing area 2 mi west of the accident site. After refueling he departed on the accident flt. Video tape showed the helicopter began to hover over the transmission stanchion with the conductor attached to the long line. The conductor became entangled with the stanchion's cross bar and the helicopter began to climb with the conductor attached and entangled with the crossbar. The helicopter then began to spin to the left in a nose down attitude and crash.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1097G
- Reported as
- McDonnell Douglas 369
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 800757D
- Airframe hours
- 3,350
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 133
- Operator
- Helicopters International
- Registered owner
- Helicopter International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 1989 · 64 hours before
- Departed
- NONE · Freemans Junc., 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
- 24
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 572 total · 400 in this make and model · 89 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.