Bell 206L-1 N54AE

Summary

On 27 October 2024 at about 18:35 local time, a Bell 206L-1 registered N54AE, operated by Air Evac EMS Inc, was involved in an accident near Canal Winchester, Ohio, United States. 3 people were 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

27 October 2024 at 18:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Canal Winchester, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.8667, -82.8000

Aircraft

Bell 206L-1

Registration

N54AE

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Air Evac EMS Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Columbus → Lancaster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA027

Nobody was injured.

An in-flight collision with a bird while in cruise flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the enroute portion of the flight, a large bird impacted the top of the helicopter’s fuselage and main rotor, resulting in substantial damage to a pitch control link and a subsequent vibration. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing in a nearby field and was able to land uneventfully.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.