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19980106000159A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Bell 206B · Savannah, GA · January 6, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 6, 1998 · 20:34 local
Place
Savannah, GA
Airport
Savannah International
Phase of flight
Final Approach
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N333FC
NTSB investigation
NTSBMIA98LA053
Reported as
Bell 206B
Reported engine
Allison 250C20
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
5,000 total2,500 in this make and model
N333FCRegistered now · Bell 206BS/N 1763 · Built 1975Airframe modelBell 206BEngine modelRolls-Royce 250-C20Turbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The noninstrument-rated pilot stated he received a weather briefing via computer prior to departure. While approaching his destination he was told the airport was under instrument flight rules conditions. He requested and received a special visual flight rules clearance to approach the airport. While maneuvering to line up with the airport the helicopter collided with an oak tree. An emergency landing was then made in a field. The passenger stated that he did not observe the pilot reset the altimeter during the entire flight and that at the time the helicopter collided with the trees the altimeter read about 480 feet. The elevation at the Savannah airport is 51 feet. (-23)pilot requested svfr and was given clearence. Reported RY36 in sight (sav) approx. 1 mile from airport. Aircraft was cleared to land but never talked to tower. A search was conducted. Pilot called via telephone and reported landing in fields near airport. Reported no injuries or damage to aircraft. A call was received a approx 1200Z and a/c was reported with heavy damage and injuries. Wx at 0144Z was 50 1 1/2 brove 19/19 A3003 rmk sfc VSBY2.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE NONINSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT STATED HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING VIA COMPUTER PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. WHILE APPROACHING HIS DESTINATION HE WAS TOLD THE AIRPORT WAS UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES CONDITIONS. HE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL VISUAL FLIGHT RULES CLEARANCE TO APPROACH THE AIRPORT. WHILE MANEUVERING TO LINE UP WITH THE AIRPORT THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH AN OAK TREE. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS THEN MADE IN A FIELD. THE PASSENGER STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE THE PILOT RESET THE ALTIMETER DURING THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND THAT AT THE TIME THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH THE TREES THE ALTIMETER READ ABOUT 480 FEET. THE ELEVATION AT THE SAVANNAH AIRPORT IS 51 FEET. (-23)PILOT REQUESTED SVFR AND WAS GIVEN CLEARENCE. REPORTED RY36 IN SIGHT (SAV) APPROX. 1 MILE FROM AIRPORT. AIRCRAFT WAS CLEARED TO LAND BUT NEVER TALKED TO TOWER. A SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED. PILOT CALLED VIA TELEPHONE AND REPORTED LANDING IN FIELDS NEAR AIRPORT. REPORTED NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT. A CALL WAS RECEIVED A APPROX 1200Z AND A/C WAS REPORTED WITH HEAVY DAMAGE AND INJURIES. WX AT 0144Z WAS 50 1 1/2 BROVE 19/19 A3003 RMK SFC VSBY2.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA98LA053Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPooler, GAThe pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude and a visual lookout while operating under a special visual flight rules clearance in instrument flight rule conditions, which resulted in the helicopter colliding with trees. Contributing to the accident was…Jan 7, 1998 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N333FC · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19910708061249ALevel Off Touchdown · Vero Beach, FLReported forced landing due mechanical and passenger hit cyclic exiting. Mechanic reported damaged by hard landing.Jul 8, 1991 · Substantial damage