Trenton-Mercer Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hopewell, New Jersey 08560
Thursday, June 14, 2001 1:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed in a helicopter with seven passengers, on a night VFR cross-country flight under FAR 135, into known deteriorating weather conditions. About 35 minutes after departure, while maneuvering in IMC conditions, the helicopter struck trees, and came to rest about 735 feet from initial tree contact. The flight had been one of two helicopters that had carried passengers to the departure airport. The pilot of the other helicopter made three contacts with flight service for weather briefings, and relayed his finding to the accident pilot. The briefings included VFR flight not recommended, and deteriorating weather. The company operations manual called for a minimum weather of a 500 foot ceiling and 1 mile visibility, and that to operate VFR, the pilot had to have visual surface reference. The pilot reported that he entered IMC conditions and was attempting to perform a precautionary landing when the tail rotor struck a tree. The pilot also reported that after the accident, he estimated the ceiling was about 100 feet high and the visibility was about 1 mile at the accident site. Radar data tracked the flight as the pilot maneuvered between 300 feet MSL, and 1,300 feet MSL, and then descended toward a nearby airport. However, due to terrain, there was no radar of the last portion of the flight. A pilot rated passenger seated in the front row, reported the pilot entered into IMC conditions, and maneuvered in IMC conditions for several minutes. He also said the helicopter was in IMC conditions, in cruise flight when it struck trees. The departure weight exceeded the maximum allowable takeoff weight by about 115 pounds and also exceeded the forward CG limit. Additionally, the passengers reported no pre-departure passenger briefing had been conducted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions, and which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors were the fog, and dark night conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/14/2001
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hopewell
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08560
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 402210N
Event Location Longitude 0744736W
Event Location Airport Trenton-Mercer
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TTN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5.7
Degrees magnetic from airport 201
Airport Elevation 213
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 103 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 201
Weather Observation Facility ID TTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 213
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) 893
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 7
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 7
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12307
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 14 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 20 2002 10:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N555LH
NTSB Number NYC01LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Eurocopter France
Aircraft Model AS-350-BA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3018
Certified Max Gross Weight 4630
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection May 30 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 37.2
Airframe Hours 4804.3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Liberty Helicopters
Aircraft Owner Street Address Linden Municipal Airport, P.O. Box 1338
Aircraft Owner City Linden
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07036
Operator is an individual? No
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 MHIA
Owner has at least one certificate --
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PHL
Departure City Philadelphia
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 25
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JRA
Destination City New York
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 7 2002 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --