- Date
- November 2, 1990, 21:25 local (Nov 3, 1990, 02:25 UTC)
- Place
- Knoxville, TN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N412UTBell 412
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report December 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19901102048589I
- Case key
- 8339
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see and avoid the wires prior to the collision. Factors in the incident were the failure of the ground personnel to adequately inspect the landing zone, the presence of high intensity lights at the lz, and the dark lighting conditions.
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 night, VFR flight was dispatched to a stretch of interstate highway to pick up a patient. Prior to landing the lz was searched for obstructions with the 'night sun', and the ground personnel also inspected the lz. No obstructions were reported or observed in the immediate lz area. After landing, the pilot also walked the departure corridor with a flashlight. Shortly after takeoff, the helicopter collided with four wires which were strung across the highway. Neither the flight crew nor the ground personnel saw the wires prior to the collision. The wires were black in color, and the poles were hidden by buildings and trees. Also, high intensity light standards lined the highway at the lz.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N412UT
- Reported as
- Bell 412
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 33025
- Engine
- P&W PT6T-3B, 1,800 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- University Of Tennessee
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,278 total · 556 in this make and model · 4,812 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- TYS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.