California City Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

California City, California 93505
Sunday, June 5, 1994 13:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the helicopter was in a hover in preparation for takeoff when a strong wind gust caused him to lose control. The helicopter subsequently rolled over. The airport manager reported that the winds at the time were from 090 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts to 30 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the helicopter.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City CALIFORNIA CITY
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93505
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CALIFORNIA CITY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L71
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2437
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1246 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID WJF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2347
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 22
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 27
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 43
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N123MT
NTSB Number LAX94LA239
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model 280C
Aircraft Series Identifier 280C
Aircraft Serial Number 1063
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BOYD J. BAILEY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9121 DEGARMO AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City SUN VALLEY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91352
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BOYD J. BAILEY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 9121 DEGARMO AVENUE
Operator City SUN VALLEY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91352
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code L71
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WHP
Destination City PACOIMA
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --