Los Banos Municipal Airport, Los Banos, California

Airport Location: The Los Banos Municipal Airport is located 1 mile west of Los Banos, California.

Airport History:

Los Banos Municipal Airport Today: 

The Los Banos Municipal Airport is one of the many "100 dollar hamburger" aviation-stops in California's San Joaquin Valley.

There is a tiny airport park on the property where fliers can barbecue themselves something to eat while sitting at the picnic bench watching their fellow aviators come and go.

Airport Services & Amenities: Mid Valley Aviation; City of Los Banos; Fuel; Chevron Texaco 100LL; Jet; Self service; 100LL, Jet, 24 hours; Food and lodging within 1 mile; Public shuttle bus, Taxis, Rental cars available; Pay phone;

Special Events and Attractions: Forebay; San Luis Dam;

Airport Area Accident History:

Accident occurred Tuesday, February 02, 2010 in Los Banos, CA
Aircraft: HILLER UH-12E, registration: N36MV
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On February 2, 2010, about 1145 Pacific standard time, a Hiller UH-12E helicopter, N36MV, landed hard near Los Banos, California. S and S Helicopters was operating the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed from a field near Los Banos. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he had just completed an aerial application of a wheat field, and was returning to land. As he approached the landing area he began to apply power but the engine did not respond. He continued to twist the throttle, but the engine speed did not change. He aborted the landing approach, and turned the helicopter towards a larger open field. He circled the field about three times while attempting to diagnose the problem. He then elected to perform a run-on landing in the field; during the landing approach the engine speed began to decrease, and the helicopter landed hard.

During the landing the tailboom separated from the aft bulkhead, and the lower fuselage sustained crush damage.

Post accident examination revealed that the throttle control lever, located at the aft end of the collective stick assembly, had become separated from the cam lever rod bearing.
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Accident occurred Friday, March 30, 2007 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/30/2008
Aircraft: Ryan Navion A, registration: N4369K
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
Prior to the flight, the pilot and passenger had each consumed at least 8 to 10 beers. The pilot and passenger had departed from a local bar where patrons had overheard discussions between them about doing some "crazy" aerobatics. Recorded radar data was reviewed. During the last 10 minutes of the flight, the pilot performed high angle turns and pitch up maneuvers. During the last 30 seconds of flight, the pitch angle and vertical speed showed an increase to about 20 degrees and 2,500 feet per minute, respectively. The speed profile revealed the flight's speed was mostly in the region between structural cruise limit and never exceed speeds. Examination of the wreckage revealed the airplane experienced an in-flight break-up. All fracture surfaces were consistent with overload separations. Post accident toxicological tests on specimens from the pilot found a blood ethanol level of 222 mg/dL (0.222 percent) and hydrocodone in the blood at a level of 0.02 mg/L.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the pilot's intentional performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the design stress limits of the airplane structure. Also causal was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of alcohol consumption. Contributory was the pilot's impairment due to the effects of prescription medication. ===
Accident occurred Saturday, March 26, 2005 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/25/2006
Aircraft: Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Beta, registration: N820SH
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The helicopter made a hard landing following a loss of engine power during a practice autorotation. The instructor pilot reported that while in cruise he simulated a loss of engine power. The student, who was studying to become a flight instructor, initiated an autorotation to a field. When the instructor attempted to apply engine power following the practice autorotation, the engine "immediately quit." The instructor applied full collective to cushion the landing, but the helicopter landed hard in the field, structurally damaging the tail boom and the fuselage. Following the accident, the operator returned the helicopter to their facility and test ran the engine. No anomalies were noted, and they believed the conditions were suitable for the development of carburetor ice during the autorotation. Review of archived weather data for the day of the accident revealed the closest weather observation facility reported the temperature and dew point as 6 and 5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Plotting of those temperatures on a carburetor icing probability chart revealed that conditions likely existed for serious icing at any power setting. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the instructor pilot's failure to apply carburetor heat during a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ===
Accident occurred Thursday, March 11, 2004 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 6/2/2004
Aircraft: Ayres S-2R, registration: N8930Q
Injuries: 1 Minor.
The airplane veered off the runway and nosed over while attempting to takeoff in a westerly direction, during dusk. While on takeoff roll, the pilot's visibility was limited due to sun glare. He lost visual reference to the runway and veered off the pavement to the left. The airplane continued off the runway and encountered soft terrain. The left main landing gear sank, and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment due to visual restrictions from the light condition, resulting in a nose over. Factors in the accident were the dusk light conditions and sun glare. ===
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 18, 2002 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/28/2004
Aircraft: Schweizer 269C, registration: N642KC
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The pilot and aircraft maintenance technician were performing a post maintenance test flight when a vibration occurred, followed by a total loss of engine power. The commercial certificated helicopter pilot made a forced landing in a muddy field, during which the helicopter received structural damage. Post accident examination revealed a failed exhaust valve in the number 3 cylinder, and that two exhaust spring seats had been installed, one on top of the other, causing excessive spring/valve pressures. The engine had been overhauled about 1.5 service hours prior to the loss of engine power. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The improper engine overhaul by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in an exhaust valve failure and a total loss of engine power while in maneuvering flight. ===
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 09, 2002 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 9/29/2004
Aircraft: Rans, Inc. S-12 XL, registration: NONE
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The unregistered airplane lost power during takeoff from a clearing in a wildlife refuge, impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and came to rest inverted. A buffeting in cruise flight had caused the pilot to make a precautionary landing. The pilot knew that the engine would exceed red line (overspeed) each time that he applied full power. He attributed this to the propeller pitch setting that he had made before a previous flight. He thought that the blades might have come loose due to the engine vibrations. The propeller blades were ground adjustable, but he did not have the proper equipment to make the adjustments with him. After a 30-second engine run on the ground and observing nothing abnormal, he proceeded with the takeoff. A Department of Interior officer responding to the airplane's landing in a wildlife refuge reported that the pilot took off downwind. A post accident examination revealed no discrepancies that could account for the loss of power. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's decision to conduct a downwind takeoff. ===
Accident occurred Monday, August 05, 2002 in Los Banos, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/2/2004
Aircraft: Aero Commander S2R-T34, registration: N8822Q
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
The airplane collided with terrain while making a turn during an aerial application flight. The pilot had just finished his first pass over the field. He then pulled up and entered a left turn over hilly terrain along the farm's southern edge. The combined climbing turn and low airspeed were enough to stall the left wing. Shortly thereafter, the left wing contacted terrain. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted by the pilot prior to the mishap. Light winds were reported northwest from 1 to 3 knots.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Airport Approach / Landing: