# NTSB CHI88FA079: Bell 206L-1, N5759H, Taylorville, IL, March 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 17, 1988, 20:30 local (Mar 18, 1988, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Taylorville, IL
- Coordinates: 39.520347, -89.259445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5203&lon=-89.2594&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13934
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA079
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13934/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA079

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, approach
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE IN SLOW FLIGHT OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A BLACK PLOWED FIELD DURING A PERIOD OF LOW VISIBILITY DUE TO SNOW. THE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN A REMOTE AREA WITH FEW GROUND REFERENCE LIGHTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5759H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5759H-2014-12-17), registration cancelled 2014-12-17, S/N 45556, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206L-1
- Registry model: [Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-helicopter-textron-206l-1) (registry code 1182107) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Allison 250-C28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c28-series) (registry code 03022, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 45556
- Airframe hours: 1485
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C28B 580 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Illinois Prairie Air, Inc.
- Registered owner: Joel A. Schneider
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 3, 1988, 88 hours before
- Departed: 1H2, EFFINGHAM, IL
- Destination: SPI, SPRINGFIELD, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 2,730 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SPI, 23 nm away

## 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 19880317005779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880317005779A), Mar 17, 1988: Bell 206L, Taylorville, IL, Destroyed. Indicates loss of tail rotor effect en route in heavy wet snow. Vertical spin to ground impact. Possible icing.

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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