# NTSB ATL92FA109: Aerospatiale AS350B, N5806K, Winnsboro, SC, May 29, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1992, 03:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place: Winnsboro, SC
- Coordinates: 34.370368, -81.080986 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3704&lon=-81.0810&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92FA109
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8510/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92FA109

## Probable cause

THE INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT. THE DARK NIGHT AND FOG WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - object - tree(s)
  - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE EN ROUTE TO A ROAD SIDE EMERGENCY AT NIGHT, AND UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, HE ENCOUNTERED GROUND FOG AND ENTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HE SAID THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A 180 DEGREE TURN IN ORDER TO FLY OUT OF THE FOG BANK HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES AND CRASHED INTO THE TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5806K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5806K-1997-10-27), registration cancelled 1997-10-27, S/N 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350B
- Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b) (registry code 8680800) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1989
- Airframe hours: 3335
- Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B 440 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc
- Registered owner: Rocky Mountain Helicopters,Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 26, 1992, 5 hours before
- Departed: NONE, COLUMBIA, SC
- Destination: NONE, WINNSBORO, SC
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,049 total, 361 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 50° at 9 knots
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19920529017219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920529017219A), May 29, 1992: Snias AS350B, Winnsboro, SC, Destroyed. Encountered fog at night on EMS ferry flight. Flew into trees trying to reverse course.

## Other investigations on N5806K (1)

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.

- [NTSB FTW67D0308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW67D0308), Oct 23, 1966: Beech S35 (N5806K), Little Rock, AR, substantial damage

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.