Sikorsky S76 N72EX
26 January 2020 · Calabasas, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 26 January 2020 at about 17:45 local time, a Sikorsky S76 registered N72EX, operated by Island Express, was involved in an accident near Calabasas, California, United States. 9 people were on board and 9 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 17:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Calabasas, California, United States
- Coordinates
- 34.1107, -118.6709
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S76
- Registration
- N72EX
- Category
- Helicopter
- Year built
- 1991
- Operator
- Island Express
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Santa Ana → Camarillo
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DCA20MA059
People
9 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s likely self-induced pressure and the pilot’s plan continuation bias, which adversely affected his decision-making, and Island Express Helicopters Inc.’s inadequate review and oversight of its safety management processes.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
On January 26, 2020, about 0945 PST, a Sikorsky S76B helicopter, N72EX, crashed into hilly terrain near Calabasas, California. A post impact fire ensued and resulted in a brush fire. The eight passengers and one pilot onboard were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was operated by Island Express Helicopters. Weather at Van Nuys airport, about 14 miles northeast of the site was reported as 1,100 feet overcast with 2 ½ miles visibility. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135 under visual flight rules from John Wayne Airport (KSNA), Santa Ana, California, to Camarillo Airport (KCMA), Camarillo, California. An Investigative Webpage is located at https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA20MA059.aspx.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Sikorsky S76 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2020 | Sikorsky S76 | Cheonwangbong, Republic Of Korea | - | Unknown | - |
| 15 May 2019 | Sikorsky S76 | Morrilton, Arkansas, United States | Arkansas Childrens Hospital | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 2019 | Sikorsky S76 | Vigo, Spain | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2021 | Sikorsky S76 | Soehanah, South China Sea,, Indonesia | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Feb 2018 | Sikorsky S76 | New Iberia, Louisiana, United States | Bristow US LLC | No injuries | - |
| 16 Mar 2022 | Sikorsky S76 | Baía de Camamu, BA, Brazil | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2020 | Cessna 172 | Fresno, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Cessna 208 | Eureka, California, United States | Redding Aero Enterprises Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2020 | Arrow-Falcon Exporters UH-1H | Coalinga, California, United States | Guardian Helicopters Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Oct 2020 | Evolution REVO | Hawthorne, California, United States | Joe K Audette | Fatal | 1 |
| 10 Feb 2020 | Beechcraft 36 | Avalon, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Feb 2020 | Boeing 747 412 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Kalitta Air | No injuries | - |