Bell 206L-3 accident near Agoura Hills, California, June 30, 1993
On June 30, 1993 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Bell 206L-3 (helicopter), registered N911VC, was destroyed in an accident near Agoura Hills, California. It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 improper configuration of the aerial ignition device by the crew chief and an inadvertent activation of the unit by the pilot. The improper installation and configuration of the unit by maintenance personnel, inadequate crew coordination, and insufficient aviation unit operational standards were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1993 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Agoura Hills, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-3 · all 206L-3s on the register
- Registration
- N911VC · registry record · serial 51172
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PUBLIC USE HELICOPTER WAS ENGAGED IN DISPENSING SMALL PLASTIC BALLS FROM AN AERIAL IGNITION DEVICE TO ASSIST FIRE UNITS IN A CONTROLLED BURN OF ABOUT 500 ACRES OF GRASSLAND. THE PLASTIC BALLS CONTAINING POSSAIUM PERMANGANATE, PRODUCED FLAME IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS AFTER BEING INJECTED WITH ETHYLENE GLYCOL. THE ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE UNIT WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED SO AS TO BE CONTROLLED BY THE PILOT, INSTEAD OF BEING CONTROLLED BY THE CREW CHIEF. WHILE SITTING ON A HILL TOP WITH THE ROTORS TURNING AT FLIGHT IDLE, THE CREW CHIEF CONFIGURED THE UNIT FOR THE NEXT FLIGHT WITHOUT INFORMING THE PILOT THAT ANY ACTIVATION OF THE POWER SWITCH WOULD BEGIN DISPENSING OF THE BALLS. A FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HELICOPTER AND SPREAD INTO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR BURNS AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY THE GRASS FIRE. THE AVIATION UNIT DOES NOT HAVE A FORMAL TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE AERIAL IGNITION DEVICE.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 86 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 9,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,009 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1993; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,150 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C30-P (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N911VC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.