ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36023
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 10 March 2000 |
| Time: | 06:05 |
| Type: |  Eurocopter Bo 105CBS-5 |
| Owner/operator: | GECC opb Northwest Texas Hospital |
| Registration: | N335T |
| MSN: | S-898 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1994 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 570 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Dalhart, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Boise City, OK |
| Northwest Texas Hospital, TX | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On March 10, 2000, at 0605 central standard time, an Mbb, BO105S-CBS-5 helicopter, N335T, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Dalhart, Texas. The helicopter was registered to General Electric Capital Corporation, of Englewood, Colorado, and operated by Temsco Helicopters, Inc., Ketchikan, Alaska, under contract to Northwest Texas Healthcare System Hospital (Northwest Texas Hospital), of Amarillo, Texas. The instrument rated commercial pilot, two medical crew members, and the medical patient sustained fatal injuries. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical transport flight. The flight originated from a farm field 15 miles south of Boise City, Oklahoma, at 0600 and was destined for the Northwest Texas Hospital.
During dark night conditions, the helicopter was en route from its hospital base to another hospital to pick up a medical patient for transport back to the base hospital, when the pilot landed the helicopter 15 miles south of the destination hospital due to fog. The patient was transported via ambulance to the helicopter. After the patient was transferred to the helicopter, witnesses reported that the helicopter departed, with its lights on, and headed toward the south at an altitude between 10 and 75 feet agl. They reported the visibility as poor, about 1/4 mile, a very low ceiling, and extremely dense fog. One witness stated that it appeared as if the helicopter was 'trying to stay close to the ground and not get up into the heavy fog.' Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter impacted in a near 45 degree nose low attitude and the wreckage encompassed an area measuring 262 feet by 75 feet. A weather study revealed that the accident site was in area of low ceilings and fog, which was expanding to the south and west. According to documents provided by the operator, the pilot had accumulated a total of 44 simulated instrument flight hours and 1 hour of actual instrument flight experience. Examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of an in-flight control or system malfunction, and examination of the engines revealed evidence of operation at the time of impact.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter as a result of his continued flight into known adverse weather conditions. Factors were the dark night light condition, fog, low ceiling, and the pilot's lack of total instrument flight time.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001212X20623&key=1
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 07-Feb-2009 10:36 | harro | Updated |
| 27-Oct-2012 10:44 | TB | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 11-Oct-2016 14:27 | TB | Updated [Source] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 12-Dec-2017 18:31 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Cn, Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 21-Oct-2022 19:19 | Captain Adam | Updated [Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative, Accident report, Photo] |
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