Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

De Ruyter, New York 13052
Monday, December 9, 1991 20:47 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE MEDIVAC HELICOPTER WAS CRUISING AT 2700 FEET (700 FT AGL) WHEN IT SUDDENLY ENTERED A RIGHT TURN OF 95 DEG IN 15 SEC WHILE MAINTAINING ALTITUDE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A DESCENDING LEFT TURN OF 60 DEG IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED IN A SKIDS LEVEL, NOSE DOWN PITCH ATTITUDE. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT NIGHT OVER AN UNLIGHTED AREA WITH OVERCAST CLOUD CONDITIONS. INTERVIEWS AND EXAMINATION OF COMPANY CORRESPONDENCE DISCLOSED THE PILOT HAD A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH NIGHT FLYING AND NAVIGATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

AN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN AFTER THE PILOT EXPERIENCED SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE NIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE LACK OF VISUAL CUES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/9/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2047
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City DE RUYTER
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13052
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2041 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 248
Weather Observation Facility ID N03
Elevation of weather observation facility 1198
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2103
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46795
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N750H
NTSB Number NYC92FA044
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MBB
Aircraft Model BO-105CBS
Aircraft Series Identifier BO-105CBS
Aircraft Serial Number S644
Certified Max Gross Weight 5512
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 6 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 17
Airframe Hours 2241
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEUTSCHE CREDIT CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2333 WAUKEGAN ROAD, PO BOX 329
Aircraft Owner City DEERFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4650 AIRPORT PARKWAY
Operator City DALLAS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75248
Operator Code RMXA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ITH
Departure City ITHACA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 2031
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City UTICA
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --