- Date
- June 5, 1994, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- California City, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N123MTEnstrom 280C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940605013769A
- Case key
- 28760
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
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the helicopter.
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 pilot reported that the helicopter was in a hover in preparation for takeoff when a strong wind gust caused him to lose control. The helicopter subsequently rolled over. The airport manager reported that the winds at the time were from 090 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 1994, at 1300 Pacific daylight time, an Enstrom 280C helicopter, N123MT, rolled over from a hover following a loss of control by the pilot at California City, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his one passenger were injured. The flight was originating at the time of the mishap as a cross-country flight to the Whitman airport, Pacoima, California.
In a verbal statement, the pilot reported that the helicopter was in a hover in preparation for takeoff when a strong wind gust caused him to lose control. The helicopter subsequently rolled over. The airport manager reported that the winds at the time were from 090 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots.
The pilot refused to complete and submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N123MT
- Reported as
- Enstrom 280C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 1063
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Boyd J. Bailey
- Registered owner
- Boyd J. Bailey
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- L71
- Destination
- WHP · Pacoima, CA
- Airport
- L71 · California City
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
- 64
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 22 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- WJF, 25 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.
Other investigations on N123MT · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.