Sikorsky S-76A N2743E

Summary

On 15 June 1999 at about 02:08 local time, a Sikorsky S-76A registered N2743E, operated by Petroleum Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Jackson, Kentucky, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 June 1999 at 02:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Jackson, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Julian Carroll (JKL)

Coordinates

37.5496, -83.3694

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-76A

Registration

N2743E

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Petroleum Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jackson → Lexington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC99FA140

4 people died.

the failure of the PIC to adequately supervise the SIC, and maintain a positive climb. Factors were the fog and dark night.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The S-76A departed on a positioning flight with two pilots and two medical personnel onboard. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed with prevailing visibility less than 1/4 mile. The departure airport was 1,381 feet MSL. After becoming airborne, as it passed through 1,600 feet, the helicopter entered a descending left turn which terminated on the side of a hill, about 1,000 feet elevation. The CVR recorded the pilot calling out the descending turn to the co-pilot who was flying, but the co-pilot did not acknowledge the pilot's call. Additionally, the pilot did not take control of the helicopter from the co-pilot, and he did not acknowledge the co-pilot's comment about a possible gyro failure, or answer the co-pilots question about the pilot taking control of the helicopter. No evidence a pre-existing failure or malfunction was found with the helicopter. According to the company operations manual, the minimum visibility for an instrument departure was 1/4 mile. Both pilots had failed upgrades in the preceding year, but had passed their respective 6 month IFR checks with no problems noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.