ATL85FA234

NTSB accident investigation · Aerospatiale AS-355F · Chamblee, GA · August 4, 1985

Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
August 4, 1985, 01:30 local (05:30 UTC)
Place
Chamblee, GA
Injuries
6 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N299FEAerospatiale AS-355F
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19850804036039A
Case key
6630

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfClimb - to cruise
Lubricating system,oil line - disconnectedCause
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Impairment(alcohol)Pilot in commandFactor
Fluid,oil - leakCause
Fluid,oil - exhaustionCause
Aircraft performance,two or more engines - inoperative
Forced landingDescent - emergency
Autorotation - performed
Hard landingLanding - flare/touchdown
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Maneuver - performedPilot in command
Rotor rpm - not maintained

Analysis

Reportedly, the plt & passengers had gone to a local establishment, where the entire party had consumed an unspecified amount of alcoholic beverages. One passenger reported that after arriving at the arpt, the plt made a walk-around inspection of the helicopter, & before taking off, he performed an eng run-up. Shortly after the acft had departed, the left chip detector light illuminated & the plt proceeded to return to the arpt. Almost immediately, the right chip detector light also illuminated, then both engs lost power. The plt entered an autorotation, but while avoiding power lines, available lift was expended & the helicopter landed hard. The occupants received serious back injuries during the landing. An investigation revealed that the helicopter had been parked outside the hanger for continuing repairs & the oil supply lines to the sensors had been disconnected. Subsequently, oil was lost thru the disconnected lines & both engs had failed. A check of the plt's blood showed an alcohol lvl of 0.04%

Aircraft

Registration
N299FE
Reported as
Aerospatiale AS-355F
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
5152
Airframe hours
870
Engine
Allison 250-C2OF, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Metro Ambulance Service,Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 24, 1985 · 12 hours before
Departed
PDK · Chamblee, GA

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
30
Certificate
Commercial
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,900 total · 14 in this make and model · 1,720 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
Wind
Calm
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
63 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
FTY, 10 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.