MANHATTAN BEACH, CA, USA
N8360J
ROBINSON R22
THE HELICOPTER WAS TO FLY IN FORMATION WITH A BANNER TOWED BY AN ACFT 'TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.' NUMEROUS WITNESSES ALONG A 20-MILE STRETCH OF BEACH SAW THE HELICOPTER 'FLYING ERRATICALLY' & 'BUZZING THE BEACH' JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES SAW THE HELICOPTER PULL UP TO A NEAR HOVER AT 70 FT AGL, PIVOT 270 DEGREES TO FACE THE BEACH THEN DESCEND STRAIGHT DOWN INTO THE WATER. LIFEGUARDS REPORTED THAT THE ONSHORE WINDS WERE 20 TO 25 KNOTS FROM THE REAR OF THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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