# NTSB SEA07CA143: Calstar 1 Eurocopter BO-105S, N623MB, Concord, CA, June 3, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2007, 15:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Concord, CA
- Coordinates: 37.999187, -122.030044 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9992&lon=-122.0300&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 30, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65919/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA143

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an object during hover. Trees were a factor.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, hover - out of ground effect
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During an emergency response to a roadside accident site, the helicopter experienced an in-flight collision with a tree that resulted in a main rotor strike. The Director of Flight Operations reported that the pilot had chosen a landing spot that had a tree on the southwest (SW) side of the road and a tree on the northeast (NE) side of the road. As the pilot came to a hover over the landing site, he was looking left and forward up the road to confirm that the area was secure. As he was looking toward the left front, he heard a discernable noise change from the rotor system, although there was no change in aircraft handling or any abnormal instrument indications. He looked to the right and observed that he was closer to the NE tree than he wanted to be. He then observed a broken branch on the NE tree. After a normal shut down, a visual inspection showed damage to the outer three to five inches of the trailing edge of the three main rotor blades.

## Factual narrative

During an emergency response to a roadside accident site, the helicopter experienced an in-flight collision with a tree that resulted in a main rotor strike. The Director of Flight Operations reported that the pilot had chosen a landing spot that had a tree on the southwest (SW) side of the road and a tree on the northeast (NE) side of the road. As the pilot came to a hover over the landing site, he was looking left and forward up the road to confirm that the area was secure. As he was looking toward the left front, he heard a discernable noise change from the rotor system, although there was no change in aircraft handling or any abnormal instrument indications. He looked to the right and observed that he was closer to the NE tree than he wanted to be. He then observed a broken branch on the NE tree. After a normal shut down, a visual inspection showed damage to the outer three to five inches of the trailing edge of the three main rotor blades.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N623MB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Calstar 1 Eurocopter BO-105S
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: BO105CBS-5
- Engines: Rolls-Royce CAE 835231 turbo shaft; Rolls-Royce CAE 821234 turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: California Shock Trauma Rescue Air Rescue
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CCR, Concord, CA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: CCR, Concord

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2; flight hours: 7,700 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Observed at: CCR

## 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 20070603008169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070603008169A), Jun 3, 2007: Bolkms BO105S, Concord, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Calstar 1 was requested by orinda fire department to respond to a bicycle accident at briones park, approximately 5 miles south of Concord airport (ccr).…

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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