Mbb BO-105S accident near La Jolla, California, May 9, 1986
On May 9, 1986 at about 10:00 am local time, a Mbb BO-105S (helicopter), registered N2784N, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Jolla, California (Scripps Hosp. Helipad airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1986 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- La Jolla, California · Scripps Hosp. Helipad
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mbb BO-105S
- Registration
- N2784N · registry record · serial S-633
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR SYSTEM DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. COMPANY MAINT APPLIED AD-85-26-02 TO DETECT OR PREVENT JAMMING OF ROTORCRAFT CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SERVICE BULLETIN MBB BO-105 ON 1/1/86. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN 189 HRS SINCE THE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,353 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 869 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1985; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,070 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Evergreen Helicopters, INC
The flight
- Departed from: La Jolly CA at 10:00 am
- Destination: MYF San Diego CA
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 am from SAN, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX86LA214.