CHI86MA071

NTSB accident investigation · Bell 206B · Ellendale, MN · January 21, 1986

Accident · FatalMajor investigationFinal report
Date
January 21, 1986, 04:25 local (10:25 UTC)
Place
Ellendale, MN
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N1498WBell 206B
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19860121001469A
Case key
13537

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.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal
Vfr flight into imc - initiatedPilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Overconfidence in aircraft's abilityPilot in commandFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to reverse direction
Terrain condition - high obstruction(s)Factor
Maneuver - performedPilot in command
Terrain condition - ground
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The purpose of the flt was to take a news crew to a location to cover a story. The news crew had attempted to hire another helicopter, but that operator refused due to forcast low visibility. This plt, however, agreed to fly. Altho he was certified for intrument flt in airplanes, the plt was not qualified for instument flt in helicopters, nor was thehelicopter certified for instrument flt. During a wx briefing, the plt was advised of adverse wx cond. While N1498W was in flt, 2 witnesses obsd a helicopter flying along a hiway on the plt's planned route at a very low alt. A truck driver estimated the acft had passed aprx 2' ovr his 13' rig; he said he could feel the downwash fm the rotor blades. Witnessesestimated the ceiling to be at or below 100' AGL & the visibility to be 1/8 to 1/4 mi with hvy fog. The helicopter crashed & burned aprx 100' fm the hiway near a pwr line crossing. Impact occurred while the helicopter was in a shallow dscnt, hdg away fm the hiway & parallel with the pwr line. Wreckage was not fnd until 1150 CST. No ELT was installed.

Aircraft

Registration
N1498W
Reported as
Bell 206B
Category
Helicopter
Serial number
425
Airframe hours
11,760
Engine
Allison 250-C20, 317 horsepower, turbo shaft
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Odyssey Helicopter Service Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · January 20, 1986 · 1 hours before
Departed
RLA · Minneapolis, MN
Destination
RLA · Austin, MN

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
35
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Right
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
2,071 total · 141 in this make and model · 835 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Lowest ceiling
100 ft overcast

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.