On June 23, 1982, an Aerospatiale SA-316B (registration N6456) operated by Continental Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Dardanelle, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A medivac helicopter struck a tree about 134 feet above ground while circling to land. The main rotor lodged in the tree, and the helicopter came to rest 30 feet away.
Incident Details
The accident occurred during a medivac flight originating from Modesto, California. The helicopter was dispatched to pick up an individual injured in an automobile accident. On board were the pilot, a nurse, and a medical technician.
Sequence of Events
Spotlights from ground vehicles were used to illuminate the intended landing area and also highlighted the surrounding tall trees. After circling approximately three times, the helicopter struck a tree at an altitude of about 134 feet above ground level while in a descending left turn. The main rotor blades became lodged in the tree. The helicopter came to rest approximately 30 feet from the tree.
Location
The accident site was in the vicinity of Modesto, California. The landing area had been prepared with vehicle spotlights for nighttime illumination.