American Eurocopter Llc AS350B2 N29LW and Bombardier Inc CL-600-2B19 N953SW incident near Burbank, California

Probable cause

The local controller’s failure to issue control instructions necessary to ensure positive control/standard separation of traffic operating within the Class C airspace.

NTSB analysis

A Canadair CRJ-200 and an American Eurocopter AStar 350, operating as a news helicopter, were involved in a near mid-air collision while the CRJ was on the left base leg of the landing pattern for a visual approach to land. As the CRJ was descending through 1,500 feet, the helicopter was conducting operations two miles southeast of the runway at 1,400 feet. The crew of the CRJ received and complied with a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory directing a climb to maintain separation from the helicopter. The helicopter was operating under visual flight rules in the southeast portion of the airport’s Class C airspace. The event occurred at dusk under visual meteorological conditions. There was no damage to either aircraft, and no reported injuries.

This incident resulted from the local controller not maintaining positive control/standard separation of aircraft within the Class C airspace. As the controller did not issue any control instructions to establish and maintain separation, neither visual separation nor target resolution procedures were being applied before the incident occurred. Consequently, the flight crew of the CRJ received a resolution advisory and had to maneuver to resolve the conflict.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for OPS10IA163 for the full record.