Aerospatiale AS-365-N2 N653CN

Summary

On 21 May 1997 at about 12:55 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-365-N2 registered N653CN, operated by Conseco Inc., was involved in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board. One person on the ground also died. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 1997 at 12:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Indianapolis Intl (IND)

Coordinates

39.7303, -86.2901

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS-365-N2

Registration

N653CN

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Conseco Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carmel → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA140

Injuries not recorded.

inadequate visual clearance by the passenger resulting in his being struck with the rotor blade. A factor relating to this accident was the gusting winds.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said that he was delivering the passenger and his associate to their company's corporate ramp. 'I landed, taxied in, shut down the engines, and had applied the rotor brake. My passengers were deplaning from the right side of the helicopter with the help of line personnel.' The passenger 'walked forward of the helicopter and turned left into the tip path plane of the rotor system. The passenger was struck in the left temple by a main rotor blade.' The condition of the ramp was good. The static flex clearance of the helicopter blade was determined to decrease at increased wind velocities. The surface winds at 0756 est were reported as 040 at 14 gusting to 21 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.