Sikorsky S-58B accident near Los Angeles, California, January 31, 1987
On January 31, 1987 at about 3:39 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-58B (helicopter), registered N5594C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Los Angeles, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1987 · about 3:39 pm local time
- Place
- Los Angeles, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-58B · all S-58Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5594C · registry record · serial 58-692
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SIKORSKY S-58B COLLIDED WITH A MARKED 253 FT AGL ANTENNA TOWER (TWR) WHILE MANEUVERING OVER EXTERNAL LOAD LIFT SITE. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE WAS SITTING IN THE RIGHT SEAT OF THE ACFT IN A RIGHT DESCENDING ORBIT CONDUCTING A SITE RECON AND THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE TWRS PRESENCE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE MISJUDGED HIS POSITION RE THE TWR. THE PLT INDICATED THAT HE STARTED A DESCENT WHILE DISCUSSING THE LIFT PLAN WITH HIS CREWCHIEF. BOTH CREWMEMBERS WHO WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACFT WERE LOOKING TO THE RIGHT AT THE LIFT SITE WHEN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE ANTENNA TWR. THE ANTENNA TWR WAS A PROPERLY MARKED OBSTRUCTION AND MET THE LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAA ADVISORY CIRCULAR 70/7460-1. THE COLLISION DAMAGED THE MAIN ROTOR.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,226 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,100 as pilot in command; 1,012 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,478 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, January 30, 1987; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,000 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6T3 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aris Helicopter LTD
The flight
- Departed from: HRR Hawthorne CA at 2:25 pm
- Destination: HRR Hawthorne CA
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:49 pm from LAX, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.