20020909025909A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-1 · Doland, SD · September 9, 2002

Date: September 9, 2002 · 21:52 local
Place: Doland, SD
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: RMXA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N400SL
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI02FA288
Reported as: Bell 206L1
People aboard: 4
Fatal injuries: 4

N400SLRegistration cancelled Feb 7, 2006 · Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1S/N 45235 · Built 1979 Airframe modelBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 Engine modelAllison 250-C28 seriesTurbo-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.

(-23) On September 10, 2002, at approximately 9:52 pm CDT, a Bell helicopter m/n BHT-206-L1, s/n 45235, N400SL, operated by omniflight helicopters inc., 135 air carrier certificate number RMXA029H, crashed in a soy bean field 3 miles east and 2 1/2 south of Doland, SC. Commercial pilot masaaki suzuki piloted the helicopter, certificate number 2507676. There were four souls onboard, all received fatal injuries. There were crewmembers and one was a patient being transferred to the heart hospital in sioux falls, SD (2SD6). The aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft was on an EMS flight from aberdeen, SD (abr) enroute to sioux falls, SD (2SD6) under CFR part 135 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no VFR flight plan was filed.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2002, AT APPROXIMATELY 9:52 PM CDT, A BELL HELICOPTER M/N BHT-206-L1, S/N 45235, N400SL, OPERATED BY OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS INC., 135 AIR CARRIER CERTIFICATE NUMBER RMXA029H, CRASHED IN A SOY BEAN FIELD 3 MILES EAST AND 2 1/2 SOUTH OF DOLAND, SC. COMMERCIAL PILOT MASAAKI SUZUKI PILOTED THE HELICOPTER, CERTIFICATE NUMBER 2507676. THERE WERE FOUR SOULS ONBOARD, ALL RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THERE WERE CREWMEMBERS AND ONE WAS A PATIENT BEING TRANSFERRED TO THE HEART HOSPITAL IN SIOUX FALLS, SD (2SD6). THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN EMS FLIGHT FROM ABERDEEN, SD (ABR) ENROUTE TO SIOUX FALLS, SD (2SD6) UNDER CFR PART 135 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

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 CHI02FA288Accident · 4 fatalField investigationFinal reportDoland, SDPilot spatial disorientation while flying in dark night conditions, resulting in a loss of aircraft control; and the company's inadequate remedial actions after identifying the pilot's night flying deficiency over areas without lighted references. A factor to…Sep 10, 2002 · Destroyed

Other reports on N400SL · 1

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

Incident 19960613018699IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Madison, SDNarrative: engine replaced on site due to excessive metal particles found on chip detector, engine high temp and engine oil temperature high readings. Maintenance flight check performed and aircraft returned to service. Engine failure cause still…Jun 13, 1996