# NTSB ERA23LA147: Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, N558MT, Franklin, NC, March 9, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 9, 2023, 18:57 local (23:57 UTC) - Place: Franklin, NC - Coordinates: 35.218056, -83.492778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2181&lon=-83.4928&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Transportation Safety Board of Canada, FAA/FSDO, German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation, Airbus Helicopters - NTSB case key (mKey): 106859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA147 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to review an aircraft logbook while enroute, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Workload management: task allocation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064020/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=5620030), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to the flight, he determined the highest obstacle enroute was 6,100 ft with several 5,000 to 5,500 ft peaks along the route. In addition, he noted that during the flight, the end of evening nautical twilight would occur. After departure, he dialed 5,500 ft into the autopilot and leveled off. He went to don the night vision goggles and noted that they were on the copilot seat on top of an aircraft logbook. He went to move the logbook to the pilot door compartment, where it was typically stowed for flight, and decided to check the flight times against the times that maintenance was due. At that point, he noticed the cloud ceiling was lowering and dialed in 5,000 ft into the autopilot, then “went back heads down” to continue his review of the logbook. Then, the flight nurse asked for an updated estimated time enroute, and when the pilot looked up, he saw the helicopter was approaching a tree covered peak. He applied aft cyclic in order to climb; however the tail boom struck several trees, resulting in the vertical stabilizer separating from the tail boom. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a road, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and tail boom. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N558MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N558MT), registered now, S/N 1073, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH EC 135 P2+ - Registry model: [Eurocopter Deutschland EC 135 P2+](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-deutschland-ec-135-p2-plus) (registry code 5620030) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw206b2) (registry code 52288, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1073 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 6067.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW206B2 431 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt & Whitney PW206B2 431 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Med-Trans Corporation, doing business as LifeForce - Registered owner: Med-Trans Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 23, 2023 - Departed: 5NC4, Murphey, NC - Destination: NC95, Asheville, NC - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,723 total, 1,867 in this make and model, 3,992 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: K1A5, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR K1A5 100015Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC050 12/00 A3016 RMK AO2 T01171001= ## 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 20230309008109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230309008109A), Mar 9, 2023: Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh EC 135 P2+, Franklin, NC, Substantial damage. 1811: The helicopter departs on its fourth mission of the day from rhp (western carolina regional airport) to pick up a patient at 5NC4 (erlanger western… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106859. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15491187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA147%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15490196&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Narrative%20from%20Alex%20K%20Fulford%20regarding%20N558MT%20crash%20on%2009MAR23%20(003)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15491215&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA147-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.