19990212001329A

St. vincent's hospital air ambulance (aerospatiale AS-355 F1 helicopter) was on it's third attempted take-off from the hospital (it had returned twice previously due to adverse weather) requested an IFR clearance and was issued a transponder code. The pilot told the tower to "stand by", and that was the last transmission from the actt. The acft crashed and sustained substantial damage. All 3 POB have serious injuries. Other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on February 12, 1999, about 1720, eastern standard time, an aerospatiale 355 helicopter, N355MF, was destroyed when it impacted a house while attempting a precautionary landing due to weather, in Toledo, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot, flight doctor, and flight nurse sustained serious injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The pilot stated that he preflighted the helicopter about 1640, checked weather, and then departed st. vincent hospital, todedo, Ohio, about 1710. The purpose of the flight was to transport a patient from william county hospital, bryan, Ohio, to the medical college of Ohio, tolodo, Ohio, then return to st. vincent. When the pilot departed st. vincent he estimated the visibility was 2 to 3 miles and the ceiling was 800 to 900 feet AGL. He attempted, but was unable to receive the ATIS from Toledo express airport, Toledo, Ohio. After departing, and approximately 4 miles to the west of st. vincent, the pilot elected to return because of weather. He executed a 180 degree turn, and proceeded towards st. vincent. While en route to st. vincent, the pilot received a report from a company pilot that was operating between st. vincent and william county. That pilot reported 2 to 3 miles of visibility and one or two snow squalls that could easily be circumnavigated. With this information, the pilot turned the helicopter back towards william county. After establishing the helicopter on course, the pilot felt the weather was still inadequate, so he initiated another 180 degree turn to abort the flight. At 500 AGL, and 2/3 through the turn, the helicopter entered IMC. At that point, either the flight nurse or flight doctor advised the pilot that they were over a city park. The pilot then initiated an IMC descent to regain ground contact. Approximately 60 feet AGL, the pilot made visual contact with a tree 50 to 60 feet high. He applied aft cyclic and the botton of the helicopter impacted the tree. After the impact, the helicopter continued on its descent trajectory and struck a house approximately 30 feet from the base of the tree. The helicopter came to rest upright and partially in the house. The pilot added that the company policy was to climb and execute an instrument approach after inadvertently entering IMC. He added that after entering IMC and declaring an emergency, a company pilot contacted him and suggested he climb and execute the VOR 4 approach at metcalf field, Toledo, Ohio, but without an autopilot, and only a basic instrument package, he did not feel comfortable executing that option. According to the company's operating specifications, day local area weather minimums were, ceiling 500 feet and visibility 1 mile. Night minimums were, ceiling 500 feet and visibility 2 miles.(.4) the flight departed the hospital for a routine night VFR patient pickup and transport. Approximately 5 miles from Toledo express airport, the pilot received Toledo express' current weather which included 1/4 mile in heavy snow showers. The pilot aborted the flight. Twenty seconds later Toledo advised the pilot that visibility had improved to 3 miles. Also, a company pilot operating in the vicinity of the pilot's destination, reported 2 to 3 miles of visibility, and a couple of snow squalls that could easily be circumnavigated. With this information the pilot elected to resume the mission, but once on course, he still felt flight conditions were inadequate. He aborted the flight for a second time. While en route to the departure point, the helicopter entered IMC. According to the flight nurse `the pilot was fighting the helicopter with both hands.' The flight doctor stated that he lost visual contact with the ground for approximately 2 minutes, and regained it just before impact. The helicopter impacted a tree, and then a house seriously injuring the three occupants. In addition, the weather forecast obtained by the pilot prior to departure did not match actual conditions. (-23)the pilot stated: due to showers, the reduction of visibility, he elected to make a precautionary landing into a vacant lot. While descending on the approach to the lot, the weather deteriorated to white out conditions and visual contact with his intented landing zone was lost. He descended in IMC to regain visual ground contact. A tree was struck and the helicopter continued to its descent trajectory and struck a house about 30 feet from the base of the tree. The helicopter came to rest upright and partially in the house.