Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Duluth, Georgia 30136
Monday, May 20, 1985 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER LOADING A SERIOUSLY BURNED PATIENT IN THE HELICOPTER, THE PLT STARTED THE ENG & LIFTED OFF FROM THE HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE STARTED FORWARD TRANSLATIONAL FLT. ABOUT 65 FT FROM THE LIFT-OFF POINT, AN ADVANCING MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK AN UNMARKED LAMP POST. THE HELICOPTER THEN CRASHED IN THE PARKING LOT, JUST BEYOND THE LAMP POST. THE PLT & ONE MEDICAL ATTENDANT WERE FATALLY INJURED, THE OTHER MEDICAL ATTENDANT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. REPORTEDLY, THE PATIENT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL DISCERNIBLE INJURY FROM THE CRASH.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DULUTH
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30136
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 17A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 8
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1848 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 229
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 11
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
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) 2400
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1050
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 20 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1950
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28393
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N403DC
NTSB Number ATL85FA170
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206L
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L
Aircraft Serial Number 45032
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 16 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 38
Airframe Hours 4121
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name METRO AMBULANCE SERVICES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 195
Aircraft Owner City MARIETTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30061
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
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 1932
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PDK
Destination City CHAMBLEE
Destination State GA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
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 --