Aviation Crash Map

Bell 206L-1 N2246Q

29 September 1988 · Santa Barbara, California, United States · No injuries

Summary

On 29 September 1988 at about 18:40 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N2246Q was involved in an accident near Santa Barbara, California, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 18:40
Classification
Accident
Location
Santa Barbara, California, United States
Nearest airport
Santa Barbara Co. (SBA)
Coordinates
34.4996, -120.1205
Aircraft
Bell 206L-1
Registration
N2246Q
Category
Helicopter
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Purpose of flight
Unknown
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Platform Hondo → Santa Barbara
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
LAX88FA330

People

Nobody was injured.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
3 0 0 0 3

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE #1 TURBINE WHEEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE UNREPORTED OVER TEMPERATURE CYCLES OF THE ENGINE. ALSO CONTRIBUTING WAS THE UNSUITABILITY OF THE LANDING SURFACE FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE 1/4 INCH STEEL SHEETING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT REPORTED THE ENGINE FAILED AT 25-30 FEET AGL DURING FINAL APCH. THE PLT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO THE ASPHALT SURFACE OF THE HELICOPTER PARKING RAMP. STEEL PLATES WERE PLACED ON THE PARKING SPOTS TO PREVENT RAMP EROSION. THE LEFT FRONT SKID TUBE COLLIDED WITH ONE OF THE STEEL PLATES, FRACTURING THE FRONT CROSS TUBE. THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER PITCHED DOWN AND THE MAIN ROTOR DISC FLEXED, SEVERING THE TAIL BOOM AFT OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. EXAM OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NO. 1 TURBINE WHEEL FAILED AS A RESULT OF PREVIOUS CYCLES OF HIGH TEMP (2300 DEG F).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

Other Bell 206 accidents

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
30 May 1988 Bell 206B
N83203
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States Hawaii Pacific Helicopters Minor injuries -
13 Jul 1988 Bell 206B
N543CC
Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States
no coordinates
- No injuries -
16 Feb 1988 Bell 206B
N21197
Martinsville, Indiana, United States Roto-Whirl, Inc. Serious injuries -
22 Dec 1988 Bell 206L-1
N119CG
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States - Fatal 3
21 Dec 1988 Bell 206L-1
N1072S
Oakland, California, United States
no coordinates
- Fatal 1
10 Nov 1988 Bell 206L
N16619
St. Thomas
no coordinates
Air Center Helicopters, Inc. Minor injuries -

All 1,732 records for this type

Other accidents in this area

Date Aircraft Location Operator Outcome Died
27 Jan 1988 Colman BD-4
N49RC
Half Moon Bay, California, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -
4 Oct 1988 Cessna 182A
N5888B
Visalia, California, United States - No injuries -
28 Apr 1988 Cessna 150F
N6742F
Hayfork, California, United States - No injuries -
25 Feb 1988 Beechcraft A36
N23536
Ramona, California, United States Lancer Engineering Minor injuries -
1 May 1988 Cessna 180B
N5104E
Quincy, California, United States - No injuries -
9 Jul 1988 Hiller UH-12D
N646JS
Winterhaven, California, United States
no coordinates
- Minor injuries -

All 170,864 records in United States