Bell 222UT N251CC

Summary

On 23 September 1986 at about 16:42 local time, a Bell 222UT registered N251CC, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Galax, Virginia, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

23 September 1986 at 16:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Galax, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.6594, -80.9094

Aircraft

Bell 222UT

Registration

N251CC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Rocky Mountain Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winston-Salem → Galax

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL86FA264

3 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS DISPATCHED ON AN EMERG MED SVC (EMS/MED-EVAC) FLT TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT WITH SUBCRANIAL BLEEDING BACK TO A HOSPITAL IN WINSTON-SALEM. BFR TAKEOFF, THE PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING. AT THAT TIME, WIDESPREAD IMC PREVAILEDTHRU-OUT THE AREA & VFR FLT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED. WHILE EN ROUTE, THE PLT CLIMBED TO 4500' MSL. IN THE LAST TRANSMISSION FROM THE ACFT (TO HOSPITAL DISPATCH), THE HELICOPTER WAS RPRTD TO BE APRX 12 MI FROM GALAX (THE DESTN). A WITNESS IN THAT AREA HEARD THE SOUND OF A HELICOPTER WHICH CEASED WITH A 'THUD' WHEN IT CRASHED. HE LOOKED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE NOISE, BUT HE COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING DUE TO FOG. THE WRECKAGE WAS FND APRX 10 MI SE OF GALAX. THE HELICOPTER HAD CRASHED JUST BELOW THE TOP OF A MTN RIDGE AT AN ELEV OF ABOUT 3500'. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE HELICOPTER WAS IN ABOUT A 20 DEG RGT BANK WHEN IT CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.