# NTSB LAX96LA342: Bell 206B, N909CM, Van Nuys, CA, September 21, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1996, 16:16 local (23:16 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.190856, -118.490715 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1909&lon=-118.4907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA342
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29566/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA342

## Probable cause

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision to turn right instead of left.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - tail rotor effectiveness - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, emergency descent/landing

## Analysis

The pilot was approaching the helipad for a landing on a heading of 160 degrees.  He brought the helicopter to a stationary hover about 5 feet agl.  The wind was 140 degrees at 10 knots.  The pilot decided to do a pedal turn to the right to a heading of 250 degrees.  Once the turn was initiated, he could not stop the turn with full left pedal.  He attempted to fly out of it into the wind, but without success.  He reduced power and attempted a landing while rotating to the right.  The helicopter landed hard on the left skid and rolled over.

## Factual narrative

On September 21, 1996, at 1616 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bell 206B helicopter, N909CM, operated by Jetcopters Inc. of Van Nuys, California, was substantially damaged during landing at Van Nuys.  Neither the pilot nor the two passengers were injured.  The traffic watch helicopter was returning to the base from an assignment at the time of the accident.  The flight originated at Van Nuys at 1445.

The pilot reported to FAA inspectors that he was approaching the helipad for landing on a heading of 160 degrees.  The pilot brought the helicopter to a stationary hover about 5 feet agl.  The wind was 140 degrees at 10 knots.  The pilot decided to do a pedal turn to the right to a heading of 250 degrees.  Once the right turn was initiated, the pilot could not stop the turn with full left pedal.  The pilot attempted to fly out of it into the wind without success.  He then reduced power and attempted a landing while rotating to the right.  The helicopter landed hard on the left skid and rolled over.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N909CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N909CM-1997-03-17), registration cancelled 1997-03-17, S/N 2073 (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: 2073
- Airframe hours: 10681
- Engines: Allison 250-C20J 400 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jetcopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1996, 31 hours before
- Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA
- Destination: VNY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 1,570 total, 1,465 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Observed at: VNY

## 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 19960921031379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960921031379A), Sep 21, 1996: Bell 206B, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Traffic watch flight returning. Lost tailrotor effect in hover pedal turn to downwind. Landed hard. Rolled over.

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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