- Date
- June 2, 1986, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Peterson, AL
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N114BHMBB BO-105C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860602020649A
- Case key
- 6946
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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.
Analysis
The EMS helicopter was heard and observed as it flew at low altitude down the river. A witness saw it dip down then attempt to climb just prior to the collision with power lines across the river. The helicopter broke the wires but was stopped and came apart as it fell into the river. The sun was low on the horizon and the aircraft was flying generally southwest. The collision occurred approximately 2500 feet below the maximum elevation figures for terrain and obstructions in the quadrangle the aircraft was flying through. Reportedly low level flights had been performed on previous occasions and had been described as fun by one of the passengers.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N114BH
- Reported as
- MBB BO-105C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- S-114
- Airframe hours
- 6,420
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Metro Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 25, 1986 · 39 hours before
- Departed
- BHM · Birmingham, AL
- Destination
- Jackson, MS
- Flight plan
- VFR
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
- 28
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,519 total · 302 in this make and model · 48 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TCL, 17 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.