Miro Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rialto, California 92376
Thursday, November 19, 1987 15:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE RECENTLY PAINTED HELICOPTER DURING THE TAKEOFF. THE PAINT SHOP PERSONNEL HAD MOVED THE HELO TO A AIRPLANE PARKING SPOT. THE HELO SKIDS STRADDLED THE TIE-DOWN CHAINS. TWO WING TIE-DOWN CHAINS WERE INCORRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SKID. ONE WITNESS INDICATED THAT HE WALKED AROUND THE HELO EXAMINING THE NEW PAINT BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE PLT AND PAX. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY TIE-DOWN CHAINS ON THE ACFT. THE PLT DID NOT NOTICE THE TIE-DOWN CHAINS DURING THE PREFLIGHT CHECK AND DID NOT REMOVE THEM. THE CHAINS WERE ATTACHED WITHOUT TENSION. AS THE HELO CAME TO A HOVER, THE SLACK WAS TAKEN UP. WITH THE RIGHT SKID TUBE TETHERED, THE HELO ROLLED RIGHT ALLOWING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE GROUND. AC 20-35C STATES, 'FASTEN THE TIE-DOWN ROPES TO THE FUSELAGE MOORING POINTS AND EXTEND THEM TO THE GROUND MOORING ANCHORS'. THE CHAINS WERE DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND DID NOT CLEARLY CONTRAST WITH THE ASPHALT SURFACE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/19/1987
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City RIALTO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92376
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MIRO FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L67
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1438
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 235
Weather Observation Facility ID ONT
Elevation of weather observation facility 943
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 2644
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 19 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38460
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N66WL
NTSB Number LAX88FA033
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-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L-3
Aircraft Serial Number 51041
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 817
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM LYON CO.
Aircraft Owner Street Address #19 CORPORATE PLAZA
Aircraft Owner City NEWPORT BEACH
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92660
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLIAM LYON COMPANY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address #19 CORPORATE PLAZA
Operator City NEWPORT BEACH
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92660
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code L67
Departure City RIALTO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SNA
Destination City SANTA ANA
Destination State CA
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --