S76, en-route, northwest of Los Angeles USA, 2020

S76, en-route, northwest of Los Angeles USA, 2020

Summary

On 26 January 2020, a Sikorsky S76B on a night VFR passenger flight was observed to emerge from low cloud shortly after ATC had lost contact with it following a report that it was climbing to 4000 feet. It had then almost immediately crashed into terrain, destroying the aircraft and killing all its occupants. The Investigation found that the helicopter had been serviceable and that the pilot had lost control after intentionally continuing into IMC and then attempting to climb which resulted in spatial disorientation. The aircraft operator’s inadequate risk management was found to have contributed to the accident outcome.

Description

On 26 January 2020, a Sikorsky S76B (N72EX) being operated by Island Express Helicopters on a non-scheduled night VFR passenger flight from Santa Ana (SNA) to Camarillo (CMA) in marginal weather conditions and carrying eight passengers was seen to emerge from low cloud in a left turn 1-2 seconds before an impact which destroyed the helicopter and killed all nine occupants.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the NTSB.

It was noted that the 50 year-old pilot had a total of 8,577 hours flying experience of which included 1,250 hours on type and a total of just under 7 hours instrument flight time. He had recorded one regulatory violation from five years earlier which had involved operation in Class ‘B’ airspace without clearance and adequate awareness of SVFR (and VFR) minima. He had been employed by Island Express since 2011, initially flying the Airbus AS 350 before converting to the S76 in 2014. In 2016, he had been appointed Chief Pilot and become an instructor and examiner on the S76.

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