Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salem, Virginia 24035
Tuesady, June 12, 1984 19:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS FLOWN TO THE SITE OF AN AUTO ACCIDENT TO TRANSPORT AN INJURED PERSON. AFTER LANDING, THE PATIENT WAS LOADED WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENG. DUE TO THE POSITION OF POWER LINES, THE AIRCREW HAD TO DEPART IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. WHILE PREPARING TO DEPART, THE PLT BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER & BEGAN A PEDAL TURN. AS THE ACFT WAS TURNING, AN AMBULANCE DRIVER BEGAN BACKING HIS VEHICLE TOWARD THE HELICOPTER. THE PLT INSTINCTIVELY PULLED AFT ON THE CYCLIC. THIS RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTING A LOW ROAD BARRIER POST. THERE WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS, SO THE PLT RETARDED THE THROTTLE TO THE OFF POSITION & MADE A HOVER AUTOROTATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/12/1984
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1950
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALEM
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24035
Event Date Year 1984
Event Date Month 6
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2600
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) 698
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 24403
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 N222LH
NTSB Number ATL84LA198
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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 222
Aircraft Series Identifier 222
Aircraft Serial Number 47060
Certified Max Gross Weight 14300
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 97
Airframe Hours 701
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RMH AIR LTD., INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 13612
Aircraft Owner City ROANOKE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24035
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LIFE GUARD OF AMERICA,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City ROANOKE
Departure State VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight --