Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210
Friday, December 20, 1985 18:55 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THIS MED-EVAC HELICOPTER WAS BEING POSITIONED TO PICK UP A PATIENT. THE PLT OBTAINED A WX BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FORECAST FOR A CHANCE OF MARGINAL VMC ALONG THE PLANNED ROUTE, ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE BRIEFING THE DEST WEATHER WAS VMC. THE FLT DEPARTED AT ABOUT SUNDOWN AND THE DEST WX DETERIORATED WHILE THE FLT WAS ENROUTE. WITNESSES NEAR THE ACDT SITE, WHICH WAS 23 NM SE OF THE DEST. REPORTED FREEZING RAIN AND/OR WET SNOW FALLING AS THE HELICOPTER FLEW PAST THEIR RANCHES AT LOW ALT HEADING NW. IT WAS COMPLETELY DARK AT THE TIME OF THE ACDT AND THE AREA WHERE THE ACDT OCCURRED IS SPARSLEY POPULATED PROVIDING FEW GROUND LIGHTS FOR VISUAL REF. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED IN HILLY, SNOW COVERED TERRAIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL, NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND WAS DESTROYED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/20/1985
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City AINSWORTH
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69210
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 12
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 Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1847 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 316
Weather Observation Facility ID ANW
Elevation of weather observation facility 2587
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
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) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
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 Light
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) 2571
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 21 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 915
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30210
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N110LG
NTSB Number MKC86FA037
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206L
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight 4150
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 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 12 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 3625
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RONALD D. RODGERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3124 AVENUE F
Aircraft Owner City KEARNEY
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68847
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EAR
Departure City KEARNEY
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1805
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City AINSWORTH
Destination State NE
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 --