# NTSB LAX98TA123: Bell 206B, N3186L, Santa Clarita, CA, March 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: March 19, 1998, 17:40 local (Mar 20, 1998, 01:40 UTC) - Place: Santa Clarita, CA - Location: 34.3917° N, 118.5426° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Santa Clarita, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3917&lon=-118.5426&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98TA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30147/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA123 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate clearance with the wires. Additional factors in this accident are the position of the sun at that time of the day, which made it difficult to see the wires, and the lack of markings or poles for that series of wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - wire,static (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command (contributing factor) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was making a normal approach to a dry riverbed on a southwesterly heading directly into the sun. He reported that 'moments before I hit the wires, I saw them and made an evasive maneuver to avoid them.' He then clipped the wire with the main rotor blades and as he attempted to turn away, he clipped the tail rotor. The pilot stated that he then flew the helicopter to the ground and made ground contact in a level attitude. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over onto its right side. The series of wires were at a measured height of 39 feet agl and spanned lengthwise approximately 1,200 feet between poles or other markings. The sun and moon position information for the time of the accident showed the sun's position to be at 4.6 degrees above the horizon. The sun's azimuth was at 252 degrees. Official sunset that evening was at 1808. ## Factual narrative On March 19, 1998, at 1740 hours Pacific standard time, a Bell 206B, N3186L, collided with a power line and crashed in a dry riverbed during an approach for landing in a field near Santa Clarita, California. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was operated by the Los Angeles City Fire Department as a public-use aircraft. The flight originated at the Van Nuys, California, airport at 1645. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was making a normal approach to the riverbed on a southwesterly heading directly into the sun. He reported that "moments before I hit the wires, I saw them and made an evasive maneuver to avoid them." He then clipped the wire with the main rotor blades and as he attempted to turn away, he clipped the tail rotor. The pilot stated that he then flew the helicopter to the ground and made ground contact in a level attitude. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over onto its right side. The series of wires were at a measured height of 39 feet agl and spanned lengthwise approximately 1,200 feet between poles or other markings. The sun and moon position information for the time of the accident showed the sun's position to be at 4.6 degrees above the horizon. The sun's azimuth was 252 degrees. Official sunset that evening was at 1808. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3186L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3186L-2009-09-22), registration cancelled 2009-09-22, S/N 3798, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206B - Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3798 - Airframe hours: 5171 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 J 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: Los Angeles City Fire Dept. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1998, 6 hours before - Departed: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA - Destination: NEWHALL, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,800 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: VNY, 15 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 19980320003959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980320003959A), Mar 20, 1998: Bell 206B, Santa Clarita, CA, Substantial damage. On March 19, 1998, at 1740 hours pacific standard time, a Bell 206B, N3186L, collided with a power line and crashed in a dry riverbed during an approach for… 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.