Sikorsky S-55 N111VA

Summary

On 26 August 2006 at about 20:25 local time, a Sikorsky S-55 registered N111VA was involved in an accident near Paramount, California, United States. 2 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.

Date

26 August 2006 at 20:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Paramount, California, United States

Coordinates

33.8861, -118.1631

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-55

Registration

N111VA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Compton/Woodley → Banning

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX06LA280

Nobody was injured.

the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the unsuitable terrain for the landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following a precautionary landing due to a partial loss of engine power, the main rotor blades clipped tree branches and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was in cruise flight at 550 to 600 feet above ground level (agl) when the pilot leaned the mixture. The engine began to sputter, and the pilot made a precautionary landing to a field. During the landing, the helicopter rolled underneath trees. The pilot applied power and two of the main rotor blades clipped branches of a tree. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector who examined the helicopter and engine did not identify any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded the normal operation of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.