Aerospatiale AS-350D N5795X
20 January 1994 · Lebec, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 20 January 1994 at about 17:00 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350D registered N5795X was involved in an accident near Lebec, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lebec, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.8599, -118.8698
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350D
- Registration
- N5795X
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bakersfield → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94FA100
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHICH MASKED THE PRESENCE OF THE WIRES AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AN AEROSPATIALE AS350D HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH TWO POWER TRANSMISSION CABLES IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE PREPARING TO LAND AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO LAND AT THE SITE AND THE PILOT HAD NOT LANDED AT THE SITE IN THE PAST. HIGHER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE AREA MASKED THE UNMARKED WIRES AND SUPPORT TOWERS. THE POWER TRANSMISSION CABLES WERE DEPICTED ON THE AERONAUTICAL SECTIONAL CHART AND WERE NOT REQUIRED TO BE MARKED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS-350D accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Huelo, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 1992 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Ft. Grant, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Oct 1991 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Hilo, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawallian HEL. | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Berwick, Louisiana, United States | Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 28 Dec 1999 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Avalon, California, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1989 | Aerospatiale AS-350D | Spring Valley, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1994 | Piper PA-28R-201 | Fort Bragg, California, United States | Sundance Flying Club | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 May 1994 | Schweizer G-164B | Yuba City, California, United States | Sutter Butte Dusters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 1994 | Cessna T210L | Kettleman City, California, United States | Willie Alves Rodrigues | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 1994 | Maule M-5-235C | Columbia, California, United States | White, James L. | No injuries | - |
| 19 May 1994 | Cessna 150L | Rio Linda, California, United States | Hinckley, Thomas, F. | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Chico, California, United States | Sierra Aviation | No injuries | - |