# NTSB CHI86MA071: Bell 206B, N1498W, Ellendale, MN, January 21, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: January 21, 1986, 04:25 local (10:25 UTC)
- Place: Ellendale, MN
- Coordinates: 43.869552, -93.300689 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8696&lon=-93.3007&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13537
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86MA071
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13537/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86MA071

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
  - terrain condition - ground
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 425
- Airframe hours: 11760
- Engines: 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.

- Pilot; age 35; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860121001469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860121001469A), Jan 21, 1986: Bell 206B, Ellendale, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Took off in IFR weather. Flew into deteriorating ceiling, visibility at very low altitude. Impacted ground, burned.

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.

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