N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Northport, Alabama 35475
Tuesady, August 19, 2014 11:00 CDT

On August 19, 2014, about 1100 central daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas 369E, N444RS, was substantially damaged when it impacted a utility wire and terrain while maneuvering near Northport, Alabama. The commercial pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated from Tuscaloosa Regional Airport (TCL), Tuscaloosa, Alabama, about 1030. The aerial observation flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the operator, on the morning of the accident flight, the pilot was requested to relocate the helicopter from Mobile, Alabama, to Tuscaloosa. Once in Tuscaloosa, the pilot fueled the helicopter and picked up the passenger/observer before departing on the accident flight. The purpose of the flight was to inspect a span of high-tension power lines for damage from a storm that had passed through the area the previous night. About 1025, the pilot submitted a company flight plan via email, and according to satellite tracking data, departed TCL about 1030. The helicopter's location, altitude, groundspeed, and direction of travel were subsequently reported to the operator every 5 minutes, as it initially flew east, intercepted the powerline span to be inspected, and then proceeded north along the span. The final reported position was recorded at 1100, at a GPS altitude of 457 feet, a groundspeed of 32 knots, and a track of 27 degrees true. At that time, the helicopter was positioned over the western edge of the easement through which the powerlines ran. About 1130, the power company contacted the operator and reported an additional fault with the transmission lines the accident helicopter was tasked with inspecting, and believed that the fault may be associated with the helicopter. The operator subsequently began a search for the helicopter and provided its last known position to local law enforcement. The accident site was located by air about 1/4-mile northeast of helicopter's last reported position. The accident site was located along the eastern edge of the powerline easement, which was oriented roughly north-south and in a shallow valley between two transmission towers. A shield wire that spanned between the two towers on their eastern side was severed about mid-way between the two towers. The remaining fiber optic cable and three power transmission phase cables appeared undamaged. The helicopter came to rest inverted, within a creek bed, just outside and east of the easement, in a forested area. The aft portion of the tailboom and the main rotor head separated from the fuselage, and came to rest about 80 and 90 feet from the fuselage, respectively.

Not Yet Reported