Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Ringgold, Pennsylvania 17960
Tuesady, April 27, 1982 23:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE HELICOPTER WAS LEASED BY THE ALLENTOWN SACRED HEART HOSPITAL. AT 2236 EDT, THE PILOT, WHO WAS STANDING BY FOR DUTY, OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING. LATER, AT 2312, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR A MED-EVAC HELICOPTER TO RESPOND TO A CAR ACCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED 10 MIN LATER AND LANDED AT THE SITE AT 2343 EDT. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF WITH A PATIENT, TWO NURSES AND A PILOT ON BOARD. AT THAT TIME, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VERY RAINY WITH A MILD BREEZE. REPORTEDLY, THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE SEARCHLIGHT ON. A SHORT TIME LATER, IT IMPACTED ON RISING TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND IN A RIGHT BANK. A WITNESS REPORTED SEEING THE HELICOPTER CROSS OVER TREES WITH THE SEARCHLIGHT ON, POINTING DOWN, BEFORE IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY IMPACT AND FIRE. ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WAS FOUND IN BOTH ENGINE. AN FAA FORM 337, DATED 4/27/82, REVEALED THAT A NIGHTSUN SEARCHLIGHT HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE HAD BEEN ADJUSTED FOR THE INSTALLATION.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1982
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2355
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City NEW RINGGOLD
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17960
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
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) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 45
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3226
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1022H
NTSB Number NYC82FA080
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MBB
Aircraft Model BO-105C
Aircraft Series Identifier BO-105C
Aircraft Serial Number S-116
Certified Max Gross Weight 5291
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3639
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MBB HELICOPTER CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address E. MARKET & WESTTOWN RD.,BOX 1
Aircraft Owner City WESTCHESTER
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19380
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KEYSTONE HELICOPTER CORPORATIO
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1420 PHOENIXVILLE PIKE
Operator City WESTCHESTER
Operator State PA
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City NEW RINGGOLD
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 2354
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City ALLENTOWN
Destination State PA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
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 No
Medical Flight --