History of Flight
On January 2, 2013, about 0615 Pacific standard time, a Bell 206 helicopter (N828AC) was destroyed when it impacted terrain in a vineyard while maneuvering about 10 miles southeast of Delano Municipal Airport, Delano, California. The helicopter was registered to Maricopa Helicopter, LLC, and operated by San Joaquin Helicopters under 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from Delano about 0420 for frost protection.
A second helicopter pilot, following the accident aircraft on the return flight, reported seeing the accident helicopter make a right turn and asked if she was lost. She responded that she thought she was. The second pilot provided directions toward Delano. He then observed an orange glow within the fog layer ahead. The accident helicopter's working spotlights were on prior to the accident.
Pilot Information
The 62-year-old pilot held a commercial certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, instrument airplane, and rotorcraft-helicopter ratings. A second-class medical was issued March 2012 with no limitations. She reported 1,300 total flight hours and 250 hours in the previous 6 months. Her logbook showed 212.6 hours in the last 6 months: 100.5 in fixed-wing and 21.1 in helicopters. She had flown the accident helicopter 2 days prior for training (0.6 hours) and frost control (4.5 hours).
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a Bell 206B3, serial number 1519. At the last annual inspection (September 12, 2012), total airframe time was 5,179 hours. It was powered by an Allison 250-C20B engine (420 hp). At the 100-hour inspection, the engine had 9,236.1 total hours and 1,101 cycles. Company records the day before the accident showed 5,199 airframe hours, 1,131 cycles, and 9,255 engine hours.
Meteorological Conditions
At 0615, the automated observation at Porterville Municipal Airport, 19 miles northeast, reported wind from 140° at 5 knots, 1/4 mile visibility, overcast ceiling at 100 feet, temperature 0°C, dew point -1°C, altimeter 30.24 inHg.
Wreckage and Impact
The debris field spanned about 30 feet wide and 500 feet long, oriented on a magnetic heading of about 040° from first identified point of contact (FIPC) to main wreckage. Post-impact fire consumed much of the wreckage and surrounding crops. The FIPC was a grapevine branch, followed by a 10-foot-long, 10-inch-deep dirt trough. About 15 feet beyond, the main rotor components were found. The tailboom (65 feet from FIPC) was buckled and separated, with tail rotor and gearbox attached. The fuselage and engine (75 feet from FIPC) were mostly consumed by fire. A red main rotor blade leading edge section was 480 feet from FIPC. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy on January 4, 2013, by the Kern County Coroner listed cause of death as blunt injuries. Toxicology detected no ethanol; Trimethoprim was found in muscle and liver.
Communications
The two helicopters and the operator communicated via a common traffic advisory frequency.