# Accident 19980111000249A: Bell 222UT, Sandy, UT, January 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 11, 1998, 22:50 local time
- Place: Sandy, UT
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 40.5697° N, 111.8901° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5697&lon=-111.8901&mi=10
- Aircraft: N222UH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222UH-1998-07-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 222UT (registry code 1182148, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-222ut) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222UT
- People aboard: 4
- Fatal injuries: 4
- Pilot flight hours: 6,257 total, 318 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980111000249A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE HOSPITAL HELICOPTER WAS DISPATCHED TO TRANSPORT A SKIER, WHO HAD BEEN INJURED IN AN AVALANCHE. SNOW WAS NOT FALLING WHEN THE HELICOPTER DEPARTED THE HOSPITAL, BUT THERE WERE 'GUSTY WINDS AND LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW' DURING ARRIVAL AT THE LANDING ZONE. THE DISPATCHER TELEPHONED THE PILOT (USING A CELLULAR PHONE) TO ADVISE HIM THAT HOSPITAL WEATHER CONDITIONS HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO A FAST MOVING FRONT. SHE SAID IT WAS 'SNOWING REALLY HARD,' THE WINDS WERE GUSTING TO 37 KNOTS, AND VISIBILITY WAS LESS THAN 300 FEET (SHE COULD NOT SEE A WING OF THE HOSPITAL ON THE CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION MONITOR, AND COULD BARELY DISTINGUISH THE HELIPAD). A SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAID THAT THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF FROM THE LANDING ZONE IN 'BLIZZARD CONDITIONS' AND CIRCLED THE LANDING ZONE, THEN TURNED NORTH AND DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. SECONDS LATER, A DEPUTY HEARD 'A SLIGHT MUFFLED BOOM. . . THE WEATHER HAD GROWN STEADILY WORSE AND THE SNOW WAS FALLING VERY HEAVILY.' LATER, THE HELICOPTER WAS FOUND WHERE IT HAD IMPACTED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A CANYON AREA. SEVERAL TREE TOPS WERE SEVERED WHEN THE HELICOPTER CRASHED.           (-23)PTRS NUMBER NM079808321

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98FA093), Jan 12, 1998: Bell 222UT (N222UH), Sandy, UT, destroyed, 4 fatal. Probable cause: flight by the pilot into known adverse weather conditions, and his failure (or inability) to maintain sufficient clearance or altitude from mountainous terrain. Related factors were: darkness, heavy…

## Other reports on N222UH (3)

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

- [Incident 19920628054889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920628054889I), Jun 28, 1992: Bell 222U (N222UH), Scipio, UT, Minor damage. Encountered clear air turbulence on descent to pick up patient. Damage to aircraft found after return to base.
- [Incident 19910530032919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910530032919I), May 30, 1991: Bell 222U (N222UH), Draper, UT, Minor damage. Landed at night on road. Trucks providing landing light. For rescue operation. Damaged tail rotor on sign.
- [Incident 19881105062659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881105062659I), Nov 5, 1988: Bell 222U (N222UH), Salt Lake City, UT. NR1 hydraulic system failed. Loss of power to tail rotor control. Emergency landing. Chaffed line caused fluid loss

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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