Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Monica, California 90405
Friday, August 24, 1990 7:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AT THE END OF A SLING LOAD OPERATION, THE PLT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON THE ROOF OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING STRUCTURE, THEN EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT HIGH RPM TO RETRIEVE THE FRONT DOOR FROM THE BACK SEAT. AS HE STARTED TO INSTALL THE DOOR THE HELICOPTER PROCEEDED TO LIFT OFF AND THE PILOT RAN FROM THE HELICOPTER. IT RAISED ABOUT 10 FT THEN ROLLED OVER. A WITNESS STATED THE PLT TOLD HIM HIS SLEEVE HAD CAUGHT THE COLLECTIVE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND NO ONE AT THE CONTROLS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City SANTA MONICA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90405
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 8
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 730 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID SMO
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 876
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 741
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42048
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5012A
NTSB Number LAX90LA303
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier 369D
Aircraft Serial Number 510980D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARIS HELICOPTERS LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1138 COLEMAN AVE.
Aircraft Owner City SAN JOSE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ARIS HELICOPTER INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1138 COLEMAN AVE.
Operator City SAN JOSE
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95110
Operator Code CAXL
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAX
Departure City LOS ANGELES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 650
Departure Time Zone PDT
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --