Aerospatiale AS350B2 N111DT

Summary

On 19 October 2001 at about 20:58 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B2 registered N111DT, operated by Medical Air Transport, Inc., was involved in an accident near Roswell, New Mexico, United States. 4 people were on board and 2 died, 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 October 2001 at 20:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Roswell, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

33.4203, -104.6589

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350B2

Registration

N111DT

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Medical Air Transport, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Roswell → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW02FA017

2 people died.

The seizing of the cyclic control for an undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of altitude for the pilot to regain control of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After a maximum performance takeoff (to clear wires) from a parking lot, the helicopter departed the area to the west and climbed to an altitude of 5,500 feet msl. After selecting a landing zone, the pilot turned northwest toward the area and initiated a descent. The pilot's intention was to bring the helicopter to a high hover, allow the dust to settle, and then land. As the helicopter descended to about 200 feet agl, at an airspeed of 115-120 knots, the pilot initiated a right turn into the wind. As the helicopter was turning, the pilot realized the turn was "too steep" and tried to shallow the turn; however, the cyclic would not move. At one point the pilot tried to neutralize the cyclic with both hands but to no avail. The pilot did not remember any "stiffness" with the collective, and he did not hear a warning horn or see any lights illuminate. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted the ground. No pre-impact anomalies were observed during an examination of the airframe and engine. No anomalies were noted during the examination and testing of the hydraulic servos that would have prevented their operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.