# NTSB ATL87MA028: Bell 206B, N59610, Cincinnati, OH, November 25, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 25, 1986, 06:43 local (11:43 UTC)
- Place: Cincinnati, OH
- Coordinates: 39.10931, -84.420051 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1093&lon=-84.4201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87MA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7527/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87MA028

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - dispatch - improper, company/operator management (cause)
  - pressure induced by others, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - pressure induced by others, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE OWNER/OPERATOR (OPER) OF A FLYING SERVICE PROVIDED ACFT FOR BROADCASTING STATIONS IN THE AREA. A RADIO STATION HAD CONTRACTED WITH THE OPER TO PROVIDE A HELICOPTER (HELO, N59610) & A PLT TO TAKE A NEWS RPRTR ON A LOCAL TRAFFIC WATCH. THE OPER RPRTD THAT ON THE MORNING OF THE ACDNT, THE CEILING WAS RAGGED & HE SUGGESTED TO THE NEWS RPRTR THAT THE TAKE- OFF BE DELAYED UNTIL DAYLIGHT. THE RPRTR REJECTED THE SUGGESTION, SINCE AN ACFT FOR A COMPETING BROADCASTING STATION WAS ALREADY AIRBORNE. THE OPER HAD A POLICY OF NOT FLYING A HELO WHEN THE CEILING OR VIS WAS LESS THAN 300' OR 1/2 MI, BUT THE DECISION FOR FLT WAS LEFT TO THE PLT. BFR SUNRISE, N59610 WAS CLRD AS LEADER OF A FLT OF 2 FOR A SVFR DEPARTURE IN FOGGY CONDS. THE PLT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED. AFTER DEPARTING, N59610 ENTERED DENSE FOG & SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED ON WOODED, RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 1 MI SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. AT CINCINNATI, THE 0555 WX WAS, IN PART: 600' OVERCAST, 1-1/2 MI VIS WITH FOG; AT 0655 THE CEILING & VIS WERE 200' OVERCAST & 1/2 MI WITH FOG.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N59610 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1487
- Airframe hours: 5341
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C20B 250 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Registered owner: Jetstar Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 1986, 65 hours before
- Departed: LUK, CINCINNATI, OH
- Airport: LUK, Lunken Field

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,450 total, 112 in this make and model, 1,331 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LUK, 2 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19861125065339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861125065339A), Nov 25, 1986: Bell 206B, Cincinnati, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The helicopter hit trees when the VFR pilot flew into clouds. Pressure of competition a contributing factor.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.