- Date
- December 10, 1985, 04:11 local (09:11 UTC)
- Place
- Adrian, MI
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N5800HAerospatiale SA365N
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851210076269A
- Case key
- 13238
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 purpose of this flight was to pick up an injured patient and return him to a medical center. The weather was adequate for a VFR takeoff. However, enroute weather reports indicated fog and probable low ceilings. According to the single survivor of the accident, the pilot flew into 'thick fog' shortly before reaching their destination for the patient pickup. Again according to the survivor, the pilot then turned to the left. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter struck trees and crashed to the ground. An examination of the wreckage and teardowns of both engines revealed no pre- crash mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5800H
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale SA365N
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 6022
- Airframe hours
- 1,241
- Engine
- Turbomeca ARRIEL1C, 660 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Clinton Aviation Group
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 5, 1985 · 92 hours before
- Departed
- RLA · Toledo, OH
- Destination
- RLA · Addison, MI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 8,500 total · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft
- Temperature
- 30 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.