Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Berryessa, California 94558
Saturday, November 6, 1993 11:22 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot and three passengers were on a scenic flight over a state recreation area. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying low, then disappear into a cloud of dust. The helicopter had collided with two 115,000-volt power lines. The pilot maintained control of the helicopter, but landed hard with wire strike damage to the hydraulic system and canopy. The pilot stated that he simply did not see the wires prior to the strike. The pilot stated that the wires were not marked. The wires are depicted on the San Francisco Sectional Aeronautical Chart.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's selection of an inadequate obstacle clearance cruise altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/6/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1122
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City LAKE BERRYESSA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94558
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1743
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 6 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76WH
NTSB Number LAX94LA038
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 AEROSPATIALE
Aircraft Model SA-341G
Aircraft Series Identifier SA-341G
Aircraft Serial Number 1456
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 10 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 1955
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD P. ROSKI
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13191 CROSSROADS PKWY N.
Aircraft Owner City CITY OF INDUST.
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91746
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EVERYTHING FLYABLE INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3333 E. SPRING ST.
Operator City LONG BEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90806
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City CALISTOGA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
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 --