ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 203633
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 22 December 2000 |
| Time: | 03:31 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206L-3 LongRanger III |
| Owner/operator: | Critical Air Medicine |
| Registration: | N288JB |
| MSN: | 51288 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1989 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3277 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C30P |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Wilcox, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Tuscon Medical Center, AZ |
| Wilcox-Cochise County Airport, AZ | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The Bell 206-L3 helicopter, N288JB, sustained substantial damage when the pilot became ill and lost control 20 feet prior to touchdown at Cochise County Airport, Wilcox, Arizona. Critical Air Medical was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and two crewmembers sustained minor injuries. The positioning flight departed the Tuscon Medical Center about 0300, after delivering a patient, and was returning to its base at the North Cochise County Medical Center in Wilcox. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan had been filed.
The pilot told the operator's chief pilot he tried to drink a glass of tea about 2 hours before the mission, but discarded it because it tasted bad. The pilot said he felt a little discomfort during the mission when he detected the tea taste again. After the mission he reported that he felt better, and did not expect any problems on the return to base. About 5 minutes from the base hospital, the pilot said nausea, sweating, and cramps suddenly overcame him, and he began to retch. He said it was a dark, moonless night, and rough terrain was below him. The airport was at his 12 o'clock position at 5 miles, so he elected to fly there rather than attempt an offairport landing. He requested a sick sack about 1 minute prior to landing. About 20 feet above the touchdown point, the pilot doubled over due to severe cramping. This moved the cyclic forward and to the right. The main rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its side.
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's incapacitation that resulted from nausea during the final approach to landing. The pilot collapsed on the cyclic, which precipitated inadvertent contact between the main rotor blades and the ground. Factors were hilly terrain on a dark night, which discouraged the pilot from attempting to land at the first signs of discomfort.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
Air International February 2001, p79
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2017 14:28 | TB | Added |
| 11-Oct-2021 18:41 | harro | Updated [Date, Time, Total occupants, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Damage, Narrative, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation