None Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Talladega, Alabama 35160
Saturday, December 1, 2007 13:10 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed an off-airport landing in the helicopter, to pick up a patient for transport to a nearby hospital. During the subsequent takeoff, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a wire that was located about 30 feet above the ground, oriented perpendicular to its flight path. The pilot immediately landed without further incident. Neither the pilot, nor the crew were previously informed of the wire, which was not observed until just prior to contact. The helicopter sustained damage to the tail rotor, vertical stabilizer, and left aft storage compartment door.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a wire.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/2007
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Talladega
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35160
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332522N
Event Location Longitude 0865610W
Event Location Airport NONE
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID ANB
Elevation of weather observation facility 612
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23865
NTSB Notification Source BHM FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Dec 3 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2008 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham, AL

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95CH
NTSB Number NYC08LA050
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 Bell
Aircraft Model 206-L4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 52195
Certified Max Gross Weight 4550
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 56
Airframe Hours 6519
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Omniflight Helicopters, Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4650 Airport Pkwy
Aircraft Owner City Addison
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75001
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 RMXA
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 NONE
Departure City Talladega
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1310
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Ironton
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 29 2008 3:56PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight Medical Emergency