ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 310049
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| Date: | Sunday 2 April 2023 |
| Time: | 17:23 |
| Type: |  Airbus Helicopters H130 (EC 130T2) |
| Owner/operator: | Air Methods Corporation (AMC) |
| Registration: | N231SH |
| MSN: | 7993 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2014 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Chelsea, AL -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Sylacauga Municipal Airport, AL (KSCD) |
| near Chelsea, AL | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
On April 2, 2023, at 1723 central daylight time, an Airbus Helicopter EC 130 T2, N231SH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chelsea, Alabama. The pilot and flight nurse were fatally injured. The flight paramedic was seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air ambulance flight.
A witness and his wife were driving down a road when they saw a helicopter off to the side of the road about 100 ft away and 3 to 4 ft above the ground. The helicopter was hovering, facing south, and parallel to the road. The helicopter then rapidly ascended and turned towards the road where they were traveling on. The helicopter moved above the car for several seconds and turned 180° back toward a field, and immediately the helicopter pitched nose down and impacted the road behind them.
Another witness stated that he and his wife were outside their house when they saw a helicopter hovering over a field across the road. He was not sure if the helicopter landed or was a few feet above the ground. He saw the helicopter’s tail go straight up in the air before it then flew sideways and impacted the ground.
Video from a local deputy sheriff’s dash camera captured the helicopter coming over the trees, going out of view for about one second, then reappearing in a nose down attitude before impacting the road. The helicopter then slid about 20 ft before coming to rest in the grass.
The accident site was located on the side of a county road. Skid marks were present from the middle of the road to 20 ft on the side of the road. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, and oriented on a 116° magnetic heading.
The forward fuselage and left windshield were breached, and the instrument panel was generally intact, but separated from the panel mount. Heavy post-impact fire damage was observed to the engine compartment area, and partially to the transmission housing area. Both left side doors exhibited impact damage and were separated from the cabin. Both right side doors remained attached to the fuselage and closed.
The tail boom was structurally separated at the aft bulkhead to tail boom connection, but remained attached by the Fenestron control flex-ball cable and electrical wiring. The flex ball cable was cut by recovery personnel for retrieval. When the push-pull arm was actuated by hand, all the Fenestron blades moved appropriately. The Fenestron exhibited impact damage consistent with the stators and rotors contacting the internal section of the Fenestron. The Fenestron dorsal and stinger exhibited damage to the composite structure. The Fenestron gearbox chip detector appeared normal. The Fenestron short drive shaft was separated at the flex coupling and found outside of the wreckage.
The hydraulic connections of each Fenestron servo remained intact; no leaks were noted to the connected servos. Both hydraulic reservoirs were near empty and the main hose from the reservoir was damaged with thermal damage from the post-impact fire. The forward driven hydraulic pump belt was partially consumed by the post-impact fire and no longer attached to the pump.
The main transmission was pushed down through the transmission deck a few inches. Three of the four transmission lift struts were broken and separated mid-span. The lower transmission chip detector was damaged and separated and could not be removed for inspection.
All three main rotor blades remained intact at the rotor head, two of the star-flex star-arms were broken with 45° breaks. The outboard sections for each rotor blade exhibited broom-straw signatures consistent with impact damage and trailing edge separation.
The cabin was equipped with a medical interior supplemental type certificate. The forward cabin, pilot’s left side flight controls, anti-torque pedals, cyclic, and collective were crushed aft into the fuselage approximately 2 ft. Flight control continuity was traced from each input device to the main rotor and Fenestron controls. The helicopter was equipped with a pitch and roll Heli-SAS system; the roll actuator control rod was damaged and separated, displaying signatures consistent with impact. The pitch actuator remained intact.
Fuel was observed leaking from the fuel tank vent while the helicopter was being recovered. The Airbus Crash Resistant Fuel System (CRFS) remained generally intact, and the fuel tank was not breached. Damage was observed to the tank from the transmission bilateral suspension bar.
The engine was still attached to the engine deck in approximately the correct position. The engine cowling and inlet barrier filter had been mostly consumed by the post-impact fire. The fuel, oil, and air connections were properly connected and secured, but suffered thermal damage from the post-impact fire.
The free turbine blades were separated. The transmission shaft flexor group was torsionally splayed at the transmission side connection and the muff coupling between the reduction gearbox was unsplined.
An Appareo Vision 1000 video/data recorder was recovered and forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Recorders Laboratory for data download.
The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.fox10tv.com/2023/04/02/helicopter-crashes-near-highway-280-shelby-co/
https://abc3340.com/news/local/lifesaver-helicopter-crash-highway-280-bear-creek-road-shelby-county-emergency-response
https://www.wbrc.com/2023/04/02/helicopter-crashes-near-highway-280/
https://www.al.com/news/2023/04/medical-helicopter-crashes-in-shelby-county.html
https://www.alabamanews.net/2023/04/02/two-dead-one-hurt-in-medical-helicopter-crash-in-shelby-county
https://1819news.com/news/item/pilot-and-rn-killed-in-life-saver-crash-in-shelby-county-roadway-reopened-following-ntsb-investigation
https://www.wbrc.com/2023/04/02/helicopter-crashes-near-highway-280/
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=231SH
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N231SH/history/20230402/2154Z/KSCD/L%2033.37871%20-86.62505
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a20dcf&lat=33.381&lon=-86.629&zoom=14.0&showTrace=2023-04-02
https://avspotters.com/frame.php?f=Aerospatiale%20AS.350%20Ecureuil&u=7993 (Aircraft Information)
https://abc3340.com/resources/media2/original/full/1029/center/80/17320f6d-6e02-4985-a918-a6021bd04f53-Capture.PNG (photo)
Location
Media:
Deputies and other first responders are currently on the scene of an aircraft accident in the area of Bear Creek Road (Co Rd 43) and Mountain Oaks Drive. The road is closed in both directions, and it is likely it will be closed for an extended period of time.
— Shelby County SO (@ShelbyCountySO) April 2, 2023
Heartbroken to hear about the tragic air medical crash in Alabama. Sending my condolences to my former colleagues at Air Methods, the families and loved ones of those lost in this devastating incident. You are in my thoughts and prayers. #LifeSaverStrong https://t.co/1p5ZnZL5js
— Sam Nepple (@samwisco) April 3, 2023
Our report from 10 p.m. Sunday on the medical helicopter crash in Shelby County that killed two crew members. We'll update this story in our afternoon and evening newscasts today on #WVTM13. pic.twitter.com/4vTHJ53HKg
— Chip Scarborough (@ChipWVTM13) April 3, 2023
UPDATE: 2 killed after Lifesaver medical helicopter crash near Highway 280 in Shelby Co. https://t.co/hZK1meprjZ
— KayRay💅 (@KimFred89273627) April 3, 2023
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 03-Apr-2023 00:07 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 02-Oct-2023 13:12 | Anon. | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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