# NTSB LAX92FA294: Bell 206B, N59484, Twin Peaks, CA, July 11, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1992, 08:07 local (15:07 UTC)
- Place: Twin Peaks, CA
- Coordinates: 34.229095, -117.230804 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2291&lon=-117.2308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 14, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27442
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92FA294
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27442/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92FA294

## Probable cause

WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO INITIATE THE FLIGHT IN KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER AND CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LOW CLOUDS AND FOG.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - object - tree(s)
  - object - residence
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - residential area

## Analysis

BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT CALLED HIS FRIEND AND CANCELLED A PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED FLIGHT FOR HIS FRIEND'S SON STATING THAT IT WAS TOO FOGGY.  ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE PILOT DEPARTED THE MOUNTAINOUS AREA HELIPAD ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.  THERE WERE NO EYEWITNESS.  THE CARETAKER OF THE HELIPAD AREA REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER FLEW IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION AND THAT THE PREVAILING FOG/LOW CLOUDS CONDITIONS WERE INTERMITTENT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER GROUND WITNESSES HEARD THE HELICOPTER PASS OVER THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION AND MOMENTS LATER THEY REPORTED HEARING A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE.  THE WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE CEILING WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THAT THE HIGHER ELEVATION TREE TOPS WERE OBSCURED BY THE CLOUDS.  THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE TREES SOUTH OF THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX AND CONTINUED IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION UNTIL STRIKING THE SOUTHSIDE OF THE COMPLEX.  A 6-FT BY 2-FT DIAMETER SECTION OF THE TREE WAS SEVERED BY THE HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND PENETRATED THE CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX ROOF AND FRONT GLASS WINDOW. THE TREE SECTION CAME TO REST ABOUT 250 FEET BEYOND THE TREE IMPACT AREA IN THE STREET.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N59484](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59484-1993-07-12), registration cancelled 1993-07-12, S/N 1264 (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: 1264
- Airframe hours: 3981
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Farrell, Richard L.
- Registered owner: Hiser Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 29, 1992, 59 hours before
- Departed: RIM FOREST, CA
- Destination: UDD, BERMUDA DUNES, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 185 total, 75 in this make and model, 95 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: 50 ft
- Temperature: 64 °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 19920711024889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920711024889A), Jul 11, 1992: Bell 206B, Twin Peaks, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Departed into near zero IMC. Struck trees and a condominium. VFR only pilot.

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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