Bell 205 accident near Laverne, California, August 24, 2020
On August 24, 2020 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1970 Bell 205 (helicopter), registered N386HQ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Laverne, California (Brackett Field). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s delayed decision to initiate a go-around while landing in an unimproved area which resulted in a collision with debris.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2020 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Laverne, California · Brackett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 205 A1, built 1970 · all 205s on the register
- Registration
- N386HQ · no longer on the register · serial 30086
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was conducting cargo and crew shuttle operations in support of firefighting operations. During the approach to a remote landing site that throughout the day had been continuously provided with dust abatement, there was significant dust and small sage type vegetation debris in the air that was kicked up from the helicopter’s rotor wash. The pilot subsequently performed a go-around. During a post-flight inspection, substantial damage to the tail rotor was discovered.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,477 hours in all; 167 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command; 1,976 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,309.4 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 8, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 10,200 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell T53 -A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 1:00 am
- Destination: POC La Verne CA
- Runway 26R, 3,661 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 14,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from ONT, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 12, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.