- Date
- November 28, 2003, 22:08 local (Nov 29, 2003, 04:08 UTC)
- Place
- Paris, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N103AEBell 206L1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Little Rock
- FAA report
- 20031128034249A
- Case key
- 58409
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to remove the main rotor tiedown prior to engine startup. Contributing factors were the pressure induced by conditions/events, improper preflight of the aircraft, and dark night conditions,
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.
Analysis
The medical evacuation helicopter was responding to a request for an air ambulance medical transfer. The operator reported that the aircraft experienced a blade separation from the aircraft during startup. The 10,650-hour pilot reported that he started the aircraft with the main rotor still tied down. Recognition of this error came too late in the start sequence, and one of the main rotor blades broke and separated from the aircraft. The preflight was "rushed" due to pressure induced by the air ambulance mission.
Factual narrative
On November 28, 2003, at approximately 2208 central standard time, a Bell 206L1 air ambulance helicopter, N103AE, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during engine start at the Paris Municipal Airport (7M6) near Paris, Arkansas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Evac Leasing Corporation, of West Plains, Missouri. The airline transport pilot and paramedic received minor injuries. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The air ambulance flight originated from Paris, Arkansas, at 2200.
The Director of Operations reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the medical evacuation helicopter was responding to a request for an air ambulance medical transfer that was received at 2200. The aircraft experienced a blade separation from the aircraft during startup. Upon investigation, the 10,650-hour pilot reported that he started the aircraft with the main rotor still tied down. Recognition of this error came too late in the start sequence, and one of the main rotor blades broke and separated from the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N103AE
- Reported as
- Bell 206L1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 45597
- Airframe hours
- 33,139
- Engine
- Allison 250, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Air Evac Leasing Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · November 21, 2003 · 12.9 hours before
- Departed
- 7M6 · Paris, AR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 10,650 total · 3,376 in this make and model · 9,870 as pilot in command · 58 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.40 inHg
- Observed at
- RUE
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N103AE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.