Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Benton, Alabama 36785
Tuesady, March 6, 1990 12:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE EMS/MEDEVAC PILOT WAS PICKING UP A PATIENT AT A REMOTE SITE. AFTER THE PATIENT WAS LOADED, THE PILOT MADE A HOVER TURN AND DEPARTED THE SITE ALONG THE SAME ROUTE HE LANDED. AT 538 FEET EAST OF THE TAKEOFF SITE AND ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A WIRE WHICH CROSSED ABOVE A HIGHWAY. THE SUPPORT WIRE SNAPPED AND CONTACTED THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED, STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE WIRE JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE CREW RECEIVED A WIRE SURVEY FROM HIGHWAY PATROL PERSONNEL PRIOR TO LANDING AT THE SITE. THE HIGHWAY PATROL REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO WIRES CROSSING THE ROAD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. THE INCORRECT WIRE SURVEY GIVEN BY THE HIGHWAY PATROL PERSONNEL WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City BENTON
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36785
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
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 38
Degrees magnetic from airport 249
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 69
Weather Observation Facility ID MGM
Elevation of weather observation facility 221
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 269
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 6 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41118
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N105SM
NTSB Number ATL90FA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 BO-105S
Aircraft Series Identifier BO-105S
Aircraft Serial Number 549
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 3
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 3653
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name OMNIFLIGHT AIRCRAFT CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 105 WAPPOO CREEK DRIVE STE.1A
Aircraft Owner City CHARLESTON
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29412
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 7 HIGHWAY 51 SOUTH
Operator City JANESVILLE
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53546
Operator Code AYUA
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City BENTON
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City MONTGOMERY
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 Yes
Medical Flight --