Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Moundridge, Kansas 67107
Sunday, March 8, 2009 14:26 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
While en route to the destination airport, the helicopter impacted terrain in a relatively level attitude at high speed. A review of the helicopter’s Sky Connect flight path showed fluctuations in altitude prior to the helicopter’s impact with terrain. The pilot had severe obstructive sleep apnea known to the FAA and effectively treated it with routine use of a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which was found among the pilot’s personal effects in the wreckage. It was not possible to determine whether the pilot had used the device in the days leading up to the accident. Also found among the pilot’s personal effects was a container of nasal swabs marketed for the relief of congestion. It is possible (but could not be conclusively determined) that the pilot had nasal congestion that prevented him from using his CPAP in the day or days leading up to the accident, potentially resulting in severe fatigue on the day of the accident. An examination of the airframe and engine did not detect any anomalies prior to impact. An examination of the helicopter's annunciator panel did not reveal evidence that any lights were illuminated at the time of impact.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Inflight collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 3/8/2009 |
| Event Day of the Week | Sunday |
| Time of Event | 1426 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Moundridge |
| Event State | KANSAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 67107 |
| Event Date Year | 2009 |
| Event Date Month | 3 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 381241N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0973355W |
| 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 | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1415 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 120 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | KEWK |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 1533 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 19 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Clear |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 13 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -2 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 260 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 15 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 22 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.94 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 26856 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 15 2010 1:41PM |
| User who most recently changed record | lema |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N863H |
| NTSB Number | CEN09FA193 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | None |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BELL |
| Aircraft Model | 206-L4 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 52252 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 4450 |
| 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 | 7 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | AAIP |
| Date of Last Inspection | Jan 27 2009 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 213 |
| Airframe Hours | 2583.2 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | C91-A |
| Aircraft Owner Name | HILLCREST AIRCRAFT CO |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | PO BOX 504 |
| Aircraft Owner City | LEWISTON |
| Aircraft Owner State | ID |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 83501-0504 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | HILLCREST AIRCRAFT CO |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | PO BOX 504 |
| Operator City | LEWISTON |
| Operator State | ID |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 83501-0504 |
| Operator Code | GFLA |
| Owner has at least one certificate | Yes - certificate holder |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | GFLA237E |
| 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 | OGA |
| Departure City | Ogallala |
| Departure State | NE |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 1204 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | EWK |
| Destination City | Newton |
| Destination State | KS |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Mar 15 2010 4:10PM |
| User who most recently changed record | dinc |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |