Lasd Helipad (Pvt) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Angeles, California 90052
Tuesady, August 29, 2000 15:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During takeoff from a heliport atop a 10-story parking structure, the pilot heard a 'loud pop or snapping sound' as the helicopter transitioned to forward flight and then sensed a main rotor imbalance and vibration. The pilot returned to the heliport and landed on the skids, however, the helicopter subsequently rolled over and came to rest on its left side. Subsequent examination of the helicopter showed the skid cross tubes were displaced approximately 2 inches to the right in their fuselage attachment bushings and the main rotor transmission was inclined approximately 20 degrees to the right and 10 degrees forward. Examination and testing of the hydraulic pump, three flight control servos and two hydraulic filters revealed no anomalies. The tip of one main rotor blade and part of one pitch change link were not located after the accident. The mating end of the pitch change link exhibited bending along its length and crippling at the separation point consistent with overload failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The probable loss of the main rotor tip weight on the red blade for undetermined reasons resulting in main rotor vibration and oscillation. Sideward movement during the ensuing emergency landing resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/29/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1535
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LOS ANGELES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90052
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LASD HELIPAD (PVT)
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID CQT
Elevation of weather observation facility 182
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 66
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 63
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 10146
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1615
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 17 2001 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5758H
NTSB Number LAX00TA318
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 Bell
Aircraft Model 206L-1
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L-1
Aircraft Serial Number 45570
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 72
Airframe Hours 3317
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LOS ANGELES CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4700 RAMONA BLVD
Aircraft Owner City MONTEREY PARK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91754
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1535
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LGB
Destination City LONG BEACH
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2001 3:43PM
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 --