Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tyler, Texas 75708
Monday, February 13, 1989 22:17 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER CONTACTING 70' TALL HIGH TENSION POWER LINES WHILE ON A NIGHT NON-EMERGENCY EMS MISSION. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, WX WAS IMC WITH LOW OVC CEILINGS, 1/4 TO 1 MILE VIS WITH RAIN AND FOG AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. WITNESSES STATED THE RAIN VARIED FROM DRIZZLE TO VERY HEAVY. THE PILOT RECEIVED 3 BRIEFINGS FROM AFSS AND WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE CONDITIONS. HE HAD THE AUTHORITY TO REFUSE THE MISSION IF, IN HIS JUDGEMENT, THE WX WAS QUESTIONABLE OR UNACCEPTABLE. THE HOSPITAL HAD WRITTEN PROCEDURES FOR INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO IMC WHICH THE PLT DID NOT FOLLOW. RECORDS FAIL TO INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD REVIEWED THESE PROCEDURES NOR DO THEY INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED ANY IFR TRAINING DURING HIS 1 MONTH EMPLOYMENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO EXECUTE THE PUBLISHED INADVERTENT IMC PROCEDURES WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2217
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City TYLER
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75708
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
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 544
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2245 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID TYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 544
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
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) 947
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 14 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 30
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39060
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7025L
NTSB Number FTW89FA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MBB
Aircraft Model BK-117 A-1
Aircraft Series Identifier BK-117 A-1
Aircraft Serial Number 7025
Certified Max Gross Weight 7040
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 Feb 7 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 1254
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U.S. JET AVIATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City WASHINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20001
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name U. S. JET
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
Operator City WASHINGTON
Operator State DC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20001
Operator Code
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2210
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City PITTSBURG
Destination State TX
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 Yes
Medical Flight --