Bell 206B N200LT

Summary

On 9 August 1992 at about 23:10 local time, a Bell 206B registered N200LT, operated by Harold M. Arbeitman, was involved in an accident near St. Charles, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 August 1992 at 23:10

Classification

Accident

Location

St. Charles, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.7901, -90.5100

Aircraft

Bell 206B

Registration

N200LT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Harold M. Arbeitman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI92FA232

2 people died.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE WIRES, AND HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE EFFECT OF THE ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT WAS THE MEDICINE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WHILE MANEUVERING OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH UNMARKED POWER TRANSMISSION LINES AND CRASHED INTO THE RIVER BELOW. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGICAL EXAM REVEALED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 114 MG/DL. IN ADDITION, THE TOX WAS POSITIVE FOR CHLORPHENIRAMINE AND PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE IN THE URINE, A COMBINATION COMMONLY FOUND IN NON-PRESCRIPTION ALLERGY/SINUS HEADACHE MEDICINES SUCH AS ALLEREST, CONTAC, AND CHLOR-TRIMETON. WARNINGS PLACED ON ALLEREST STATE THAT THE MEDICATION 'MAY CAUSE DROWSINESS; ALCOHOL, SEDATIVES, AND TRANQUILIZERS MAY INCREASE THE DROWSINESS EFFECT...USE CAUTION WHEN DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE OR OPERATING MACHINERY.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.