Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

White Plains, Maryland 20695
Saturday, September 9, 1989 22:18 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A NIGHT APPROACH TO A FIELD ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEP'T FOR A MED-EVAC, THE PILOT WAS TOLD OF WIRES ON THE WEST SIDE & THAT ONE OF THE POLICE CARS WAS PARKED BENEATH THEM. HE CIRCLED THE AREA 3-4 TIMES FOR HAZARDS USING THE SEARCHLIGHT WHILE COMMUNICATING WITH GROUND UNITS. AFTER LOADING THE PATIENT THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED TO THE WEST ACROSS THE APRX 500-FT FIELD. WITNESSES STATED THE HELICOPTER NEVER GOT HIGHER THAN THE WIRES UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 20 FT FROM THEM, THEN NOSE UP TO ABOUT A 45-DEG ANGLE, CLIMB OVER THE WIRES, AND DESCEND INTO THE GROUND. THE ACTING COMMANDER OF THE STATE POLICE AVIATION DIVISION STATED THAT THE USE OF MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFFS IS CONSIDERED MANDATORY WHEN DEPARTING LANDING SITES AT NIGHT WHERE OBSTACLES SUCH AS WIRES ARE IN THE AREA AND THE CREW HAS NEVER LANDED THERE BEFORE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES IN THAT HE DELAYED HIS CLIMB DURING A NIGHT TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR(S) WAS: THE DARK NIGHT AND SURROUNDING OBSTRUCTIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2218
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WHITE PLAINS
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20695
Event Date Year 1989
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2255 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 22
Weather Observation Facility ID ADW
Elevation of weather observation facility 281
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 3
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1812
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1122
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40869
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3195B
NTSB Number BFO89FA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B-III
Aircraft Series Identifier 206B-III
Aircraft Serial Number 3858
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 Aug 7 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 3853
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MARYLAND STATE POLICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3023 STRAWBERRY POINT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City BALTIMORE
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21220
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MARYLAND STATE POLICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3023 STRAWBERRY POINT ROAD
Operator City BALTIMORE
Operator State MD
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code 21220
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CHEVERLY
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 2130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City CENTERVILLE
Destination State MD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2004 10:26AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight Medical Emergency