Aerospatiale AS-350 N901BA

Summary

On 6 July 1994 at about 14:29 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350 registered N901BA, operated by Usda Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Caryville, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 1994 at 14:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Caryville, Florida, United States

Coordinates

30.7707, -85.8110

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS-350

Registration

N901BA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Usda Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tallahasse → Crestview

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA94GA174

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT FATIGUE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT DEPARTED TALLAHASSEE IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. THE CEILING WAS ESTIMATED 500-600 FT, RAGGED, AND VISIBILITY 3/4 TO 1-1/2 MI IN RAIN. OBSERVING TOWERS ABOUT 3/4 MI IN FRONT OF HIS FLIGHT PATH, HE REDUCED AIRSPEED, TURNED RIGHT TOWARDS A BORROW PIT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN OVER, AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN. VISIBILITY DROPPED TO ABOUT 1/2-1/4 MI, AND THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STARTED A DESCENT TO 200 FT AGL, REGAINED VISUAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS, SAW THE BORROW PIT, AND CONTINUED THE DESCENT WITH A FAST CLOSURE RATE. A DECELERATION DESCRIBED SIMILAR TO A QUICK STOP WAS INITIATED, AND THE TAILROTOR COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER PITCHED FORWARD, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE WATER, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT CONCLUDED HIS JUDGMENT WAS IMPAIRED FROM FATIGUE DUE TO LACK OF SLEEP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.