Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
Monday, November 1, 1999 10:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter impacted terrain and was consumed by fire following a departure from cruise flight. Radar data indicated that the helicopter was proceeding on a heading of 103 degrees at an altitude of 1,300 feet msl and ground speed of 116 knots. Winds were from 280 degrees at 16 knots with gusts of 25 knots. Witnesses reported that the helicopter was proceeding eastbound at a low altitude and 'made a nose dive to the ground.' The main rotor blade and tail rotor assembly sustained damage consistent with a tail rotor strike in a nose high clockwise rotation. Examination of the engine and transmission did not reveal any mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/1999
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City COTTAGE GROVE
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55016
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 11
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 1034 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1924
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 1 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1305
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N565KS
NTSB Number CHI00FA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B
Aircraft Serial Number 056
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 15 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6725
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELMO AIR CENTER, INCORPORATED
Aircraft Owner Street Address 780 BAYFIELD ST
Aircraft Owner City SAINT PAUL
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55107
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 CPGA
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SGS
Departure City SOUTH ST PAUL
Departure State MN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GRB
Destination City GREENBAY
Destination State WI
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 24 2001 8:42AM
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 --