The National Transportation Safety Board recently released a preliminary report on the helicopter crash that claimed three lives on Sept. 30. Two other people aboard were injured, one seriously.
The REACH Air Medical Services helicopter crashed around 7:30 p.m. that September night.
“The pilot, flight nurse, and patient were fatally injured; the flight paramedic was seriously injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight,” the report said.
“The helicopter departed Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base (L11), Avalon, California, with a planned destination of Torrance, California,” the report said.
“A review of ADS-B [Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast] data revealed that the helicopter climbed to a maximum altitude of about 90 ft mean sea level,” the report said.
“Shortly thereafter, the helicopter entered a descent for several seconds before it impacted water. The last data point indicated the helicopter’s groundspeed was about 65 knots, and its descent rate was about 1,280 fpm,” the report said.
“Witnesses near L11 reported that the helicopter lifted off from the seaplane base, entered a descent and then impacted water. The witnesses also noted that it was a dark, moonless night,” the report said.
“A review of surveillance video revealed that a medical helicopter operated by another organization departed L11 about 45 seconds before the accident helicopter,” the report said.
“The video showed that the helicopter lifted off from its helipad into a hover, turned and departed to the north. Approximately 13 seconds later the helicopter entered a descent, contacted the water twice, and then entered a climb,” the report said.
“The accident helicopter then lifted off, climbed slightly and departed on a northerly heading. Several seconds later the helicopter entered a nose low attitude and subsequently impacted the water about 8 seconds later,” the report said.
“The helicopter wreckage was located in the water, at a depth of about 209 ft, about 0.3 miles north of L11,” the report said.
“The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination,” the report said.
The wind speed, according to the report, was 6 knots, with no gusts. Visibility was 10 miles.
The aircraft was a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2+
This was a preliminary report.
“The timing between the beginning of an investigation and a probable cause determination and report varies based on the complexity of the investigation and the workload of the agency’s investigators,” according to the NTSB website.
“In general, the NTSB tries to complete an investigation within 12 to 24 months, but these and other factors can greatly affect that timing,” according to the NTSB.