# NTSB WPR20CA284: Bell 205, N386HQ, LaVerne, CA, August 24, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 23, 2020, 19:30 local (Aug 24, 2020, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: LaVerne, CA
- Coordinates: 34.190834, -117.921943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1908&lon=-117.9219&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101857
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA284
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101857/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101857
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA284

## Probable cause

The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate a go-around while landing in an unimproved area which resulted in a collision with debris.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was conducting cargo and crew shuttle operations in support of firefighting operations. During the approach to a remote landing site that throughout the day had been continuously provided with dust abatement, there was significant dust and small sage type vegetation debris in the air that was kicked up from the helicopter’s rotor wash. The pilot subsequently performed a go-around. During a post-flight inspection, substantial damage to the tail rotor was discovered.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N386HQ (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bell 205 (A1)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 30086
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 22309.4
- Engines: Honeywell T53 -A turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 8, 2020
- Departed: POC, La Verne, CA
- Destination: POC, La Verne, CA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: POC, Brackett Field, runway 26R, 3,661 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,477 total, 167 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: ONT, 9 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101857. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12462672&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA284%206120%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12463463&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA284%20Photo%20of%20damage-Rel.pdf

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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