NTSB CAROL · Event
Event LAX90LA162
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE PILOTS FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE ROOM EXISTED TO POSITION THE HELICOPTER ON THE LANDING PLATFORM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF GROUND PERSONNEL TO ENSURE THAT HAZARDS TO THE LANDING HELICOPTER WERE CLEAR OF THE LANDING AREA.
Factual narrative
THE PILOT WAS POSITIONING THE HELICOPTER OVER A WHEELED LANDING PLATFORM AFTER DISEMBARKING PASSENGERS. AS THE PILOT MADE A HOVERING TURN OVER THE PLATFORM, THE TAIL BOOM STRUCK A 6 FOOT LIGHT POLE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT OF A TUG VEHICLE. THE TUG HAD BEEN POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO THE LANDING PLATFORM. THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX AND BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE TAILBOOM. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1990_LAX90LA162.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
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