Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Malibu, California 90265
Friday, March 17, 1989 17:50 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE HELICOPTER FOR SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES. BEFORE THE ROTOR BLADES HAD STOPPED THE PASSENGER, WITH THE HELP OF A PERSON OUTSIDE, EXITED THE HELICOPTER. BEFORE CLEAR OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, THE PASSENGER RAISED HER HAND. THE ROTOR CONTACTED HER LEFT HAND AND AMPUTATED HER THUMB AND INDEX FINGER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER TO FOLLOW BRIEFED PROCEDURES AND THE FAILURE OF GROUND PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1989
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City MALIBU
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90265
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 3
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 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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 230
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38548
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8784F
NTSB Number LAX89LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier 269A
Aircraft Serial Number 720110
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2055
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAMS, GERALD L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11180 WASHINGTON PLACE
Aircraft Owner City CULVER CITY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90232
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAMS, GERALD L.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 11180 WASHINGTON PL
Operator City CULVER CITY
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90232
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SMO
Departure City SANTA MONICA
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
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 --