Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kenansville, Florida 34739
Friday, September 10, 1999 3:14 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While approaching a landing area to pick up a patient the pilot stated that as he passed through 300 feet, the helicopter began to descend rapidly. He applied collective control and engine power, but the helicopter continued to descend. The helicopter collided with trees and then rolled onto the right side, coming to rest in a swampy area. He did not observe any anomalies or warning lights. Post crash examination of the helicopter structure, flight controls, engines, driveshafts, and transmissions showed no evidence of precrash failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots failure to recognize entry into settling with power during approach to land and his failure to take remedial action to escape from settling with power resulting in the helicopter descending and colliding with trees and swampy terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/10/1999
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 314
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City KENANSVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34739
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 250 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID MLB
Elevation of weather observation facility 33
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1000
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1277
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 10 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N911HR
NTSB Number MIA99FA250
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Mbb
Aircraft Model BO105CBS
Aircraft Series Identifier BO105CBS
Aircraft Serial Number S-646
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 Sep 4 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 6883
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name METRO AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1400 AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SHREVEPORT
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71137
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code HDNA
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
Departure City MELBOURNE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 243
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
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 Yes
Medical Flight Medical Emergency