# NTSB ERA19TA110: Sikorsky HH-60L, N260MW, Tullahoma, TN, February 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: February 28, 2019, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Tullahoma, TN - Coordinates: 35.345832, -86.270278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3458&lon=-86.2703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99037 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99037/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99037 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA110 ## Probable cause The flight crew’s improper decision to continue the VFR flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees during a subsequent precautionary landing attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 190 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low visibility](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 175 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Sikorsky HH-60L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8142220), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight crew was on a visual flight rules (VFR) ferry flight to reposition the helicopter for maintenance and inspection. Prior to departure, they had expected VFR conditions along the entire route of flight. During an intermediate stop for fuel about 42 miles from the destination, they noted the weather conditions appeared to be clear, but they did not obtain an updated weather briefing. After departure, about 10 miles away from their destination, they encountered heavy rain, moderate turbulence, and deteriorating visibility (a nearby airport reported a visibility of 2.5 statute miles in mist and an overcast cloud ceiling at 300 feet). They descended to about 100 feet above ground level to maintain visual contact with the ground. When VFR flight conditions “were no longer possible,” they performed a turn and attempted a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing, the helicopter struck trees and impacted terrain. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2019, about 1500 central standard time, a Sikorsky HH-60L, N260MW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Tullahoma, Tennessee. The two pilots received serious injuries. The helicopter was operated as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. The purpose of the flight was to reposition the helicopter for maintenance and inspection. The special airworthiness certificate and ferry flight permit were issued for the flight from Enterprise Municipal Airport (EDN), Enterprise, Alabama, to THA, which included a restriction for visual flight rules (VFR) operation. According to the pilot-in-command, the crew departed EDN earlier that morning, destined for THA. It was a route they had “flown many times and were familiar with” and “VFR conditions were expected along the entire route of flight from point departure to destination.” They had stopped at Scottsboro Municipal Airport, Alabama (4A6), which was about 42 miles from the destination, for fuel and lunch. He recalled that the weather at that time appeared to be clear. He did not report receiving an updated weather briefing while at 4A6. They departed from 4A6 at 1400 with no issues. While enroute to THA, the pilot recalled that they had “encountered severe heavy rain, moderate turbulence, along with rapidly deteriorating visibility. We descended to approximately 100 ft AGL to maintain visual contact with the ground. When VFR flight conditions were no longer possible, we executed a turn and attempted to land the helicopter in an open field.” He said there were no problems or issues with the helicopter and did not recall any further details about the accident sequence. A witness located about 1/2 nautical mile from the accident site was outside her home when she heard the sound of a helicopter nearby. She could not see the helicopter due to the clouds, and she noted that it was raining lightly at the time. She said the helicopter sounded “really loud and low, as if it were trying to land behind her house.” She heard the helicopter for about 30 seconds before hearing a loud “whump whump” sound followed by a loud boom. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that all major components of the helicopter were present at the accident site. The fuselage came to rest on its left side and nearly inverted, at the edge of a wooded area. The majority of the tailboom was in an adjacent tree about 30 ft above the ground. The main rotor blades were all separated from the hub, fragmented, and strewn across an area about 100 yards in diameter. The 1455 weather conditions reported at the THA, located about 2.5 nautical miles northeast of the accident site at an elevation of 1,084 ft mean sea level (msl), included an overcast cloud ceiling at 300 ft above ground level (agl), visibility 2.5 statute miles in mist, temperature 13° C, dew point 12° C. The visibility had reduced to 1 mile at the next recordedobservation at 1515. A review of the graphical aviation forecast issued by the National Weather Service at 1302 revealed that overcast skies were expected in the area around the time of the accident with cloud bases at 1,100 ft msl and tops at 9,000 ft msl. Two airmen’s meteorological information advisories were issued at 1200 and 1500, warning of instrument meteorological conditions expected in the area of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260MW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N260MW-2022-03-05), registration cancelled 2022-03-05, S/N 86-24560 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIKORSKY HH-60L - Registry model: [Sikorsky HH-60L](https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-hh-60l) (registry code 8142220) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 86-24560 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 3889 - Engines: General Electric GE-T700-701C turbo shaft; General Electric GE-T700-701C 1890 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Aircraft Investment Holdings Llc, doing business as Arista Aviation - Registered owner: Aircraft Investment Holdings Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Special, Special flight (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 25, 2019 - Departed: 4A6, Scottsboro, AL - Destination: THA, Tullahoma, TN - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: THA, Tullahoma Rgnl Arpt/Wm Norther - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,800 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 5,506 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; injuries: serious; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,800 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 2.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: THA, 3 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 20190228010609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190228010609A), Feb 28, 2019: Sikorsky HH-60L, Lynchburg, TN, Substantial damage. The aircraft departed under VFR flight rules from enterprise al. (Kedn) with a final destination of tullahoma TN. (Ktha) on a special flight permit. The… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99037. 72.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768759&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%206120_NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20v2_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of FAA converation with pilot in command (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 534 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768846&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Record%20of%20FAA%20Conversation%20with%20PIC_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - witness (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 193 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768473&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03a%20MFR%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Witness_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Fuel records (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 54.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768669&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-04%20Scottsboro%20AL%20fuel%20receipt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Ferry permit application and airworthiness certificate (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03-01%20ferry%20permit%20application_and_aw_cert_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather reports and records (item 6, PDF, 9 pages, 680 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768856&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04-01%20MFR%20-%20Weather%20Records%20and%20Information-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_19TA110-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768554&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=09-01%20Wreckage%20Release%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.