- Date
- March 6, 1990, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Benton, AL
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N105SMMBB BO-105S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 4, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900306003409A
- Case key
- 8115
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's inadequate visual lookout. The incorrect wire survey given by the highway patrol personnel was a related factor.
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/medevac pilot was picking up a patient at a remote site. After the patient was loaded, the pilot made a hover turn and departed the site along the same route he landed. At 538 feet east of the takeoff site and about 40 feet above the ground, the helicopter collided with a wire which crossed above a highway. The support wire snapped and contacted the main rotor system. The helicopter was landed, straight ahead. The pilot reported seeing the wire just prior to the collision. The crew received a wire survey from highway patrol personnel prior to landing at the site. The highway patrol reported that there were no wires crossing the road.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N105SM
- Reported as
- MBB BO-105S
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 549
- Airframe hours
- 3,653
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Omniflight Helicopters
- Registered owner
- Omniflight Aircraft Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · March 1, 1990 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- Benton, AL
- Destination
- Montgomery, AL
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,195 total · 32 in this make and model · 2,722 as pilot in command · 36 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MGM, 38 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.