ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 355497
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| Date: | Saturday 26 July 1997 |
| Time: | 10:45 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206B |
| Owner/operator: | Westwind Helicopters |
| Registration: | N123WF |
| MSN: | 3058 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6077 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Pollock Pines, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Loon Lake, CA |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The 7,000-hour chief pilot reported that the area was clear when he approached the helipad, which was located on private property. After touchdown, he reduced the throttle to ground idle and told his passengers it was safe to exit. The pilot did not report that any ground (crowd control) personnel were present to assist his passengers, and no barriers existed around the helipad area. Within less than one minute after the landing, a waiting passenger approached the helicopter from the rear. The prospective passenger became distracted due to the blowing dust and walked into the rotating tail rotor blades. Years earlier, the FAA published information alerting operators of the lack of rotating rotor blade conspicuity. Also to enhance safety, the FAA suggested that ground support personnel be available to assist passengers, and that placement of physical barriers around operation areas be placed to separate prospective passengers from hazards. No evidence was found that the helicopter operator had ground support personnel present to assist the prospective passenger, or that it had placed restricting access devices around the helipad area.
Probable Cause: the passenger's failure to recognize and avoid the hazard associated with the rotating tail rotor. The operator/event organizer's lack of ground facilities or support personnel to assist/control passenger access to the helipad was a related factor.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX97LA262
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Mar-2024 12:35 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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