# NTSB CHI86FA046: Aerospatiale SA365N, N5800H, Adrian, MI, December 10, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1985, 04:11 local (09:11 UTC)
- Place: Adrian, MI
- Coordinates: 41.890899, -84.040771 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8909&lon=-84.0408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13238
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13238/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FA046

## Sequence of events

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

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

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE SA365N
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6022
- Airframe hours: 1241
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 49; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19851210076269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851210076269A), Dec 10, 1985: Aerosp SA365N, Adrian, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Encountered fog and during turn, struct trees at night. Icing may have been a 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.