# Accident 19990515005139A: Bell 222UT, Rockton, IL, May 15, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 1999, 21:22 local time
- Place: Rockton, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 42.4401° N, 89.0599° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4401&lon=-89.0599&mi=10
- Aircraft: N781SA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 222UT
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101750C1
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,200 total, 250 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990515005139A

## Narrative

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

PFROM TTY) AIR METHODS AIR AMBULANCE (A BELL 222 UT HELICOPTER) LANDED HARD AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED TO THE 3 POB, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.  (FROM .19)  ON MAY 15, 1999, AT 2122 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A BELL 222UT, N781SA, OPERATED AIR METHODS CORPORATION, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGEE DURING LANDING IN A FIELD 3 MILES WEST OF ROCKTON, IL.  THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE POSITIONING FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AND WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED BY THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT OR THE OTHER TWO CREW MEMBERS.  THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM SAINT ANTHONY'S MEDICAL CENTER, ROCKFORD, IL, AT 2111 CDT.  POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ACFT SHOWED DAMAGE TO THE NOSE COWL, LANDING SKIDS, AND TAIL BOOM.  THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT.                                                  (-23) ON APPROACH TO A FRESHLY PLOWED FARM FIELD A NIGHT N781SA IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE SHORT OF THE POINT OF INTENDED LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED ONCE AND CAME TO REST A FEW FEET FROM THE INITIAL I MPACT POINT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS FAILED TO SEE THE GROUND UNTIL A MOMENT PRIOR TO IMPACT.                                                       (.4) AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES HELICOPTER POSITIONING FLIGHT WAS MAKING A NIGHT VFR LANDING AT AN OFF-AIRPORT SITE. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE NTSB PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE OPERATOR, SAID, IN PART: '...THE PILOT ORIENTED HIS APPROACH ANGLE OFF THE BRIGHT LIGHTS FROM THE EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND A GROUND GUIDE WITH TWO LIGHT WANDS. THE HARD LANDING OCCURRED AT 2122.'

## 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 CHI99LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA153), May 16, 1999: Bell 222UT (N781SA), Rockton, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged flare during landing. A factor to the accident was the dark night lighting condition.

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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