# NTSB FTW94LA043: Bell 412, N356EH, Cameron, LA, December 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 3, 1993, 17:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Cameron, LA - Coordinates: 29.789356, -93.290832 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7894&lon=-93.2908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 4 minor - Status: Completed, report September 27, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18973/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA043 ## Probable cause THE COPILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE CAPTAIN'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION. THE HAZE AND FOG WERE FACTORS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, copilot/second pilot (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis DURING AN APPROACH TO A HELIPORT, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE 300 YARDS SHORT OF ITS INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT. FOLLOWING THE GROUND IMPACT THE HELICOPTER WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. WEATHER AT THE TIME INCLUDED GROUND FOG AND HAZE. THE COPILOT WAS FLYING THE APPROACH. DUE TO FOG AND HAZE, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH LIGHTS AT THE LANDING SITE. ## Factual narrative On December 3, 1993, at 1745 central standard time, a Bell 412, N356EH, was destroyed due to a post crash fire and impact with terrain near Cameron, Louisiana. The helicopter was owned and operated by ERA Aviation of Anchorage, Alaska. The airline transport rated pilot, the commercial copilot, and their two passengers sustained minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the on-demand air taxi flight. A witness on the ground saw the aircraft fly by at about 300 or 400 feet and about 1/4 mile to the south. He reported that the helicopter started a right hand turn over the PHI base and started to lose altitude rapidly; it impacted the ground 300 yards short of its intended touchdown point. The pilot reported that the "approach appeared normal". He recalled a rate of descent of 300 to 500 feet per minute with an approach speed that was "slightly slower due to the patchy haze/fog." He further reported that ground impact was "slightly less than 30 knots". During an interview and in a written report the copilot stated that he was flying the aircraft and that the altimeter was passing through 400 feet and the airspeed indicator read 20 knots just prior to looking up "to pick out the lights at the base." He further stated that he could not "pick out the lights this time" due to "the fog and haze." He reported that the helicopter impacted the ground in a level attitude. An examination of the helicopter, by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the operator, revealed no mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N356EH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N356EH-1996-02-27), registration cancelled 1996-02-27, S/N 33072 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL 412 - Registry model: [Bell 412](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (registry code 1182202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 33072 - Airframe hours: 7214 - Engines: P&W PT6T-3B 1025 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Era Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 2, 1993, 7 hours before - Departed: SOUTH MARSH 147, GM - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 11,766 total, 2,165 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dusk - Wind: 215° at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Observed at: LCH, 15 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 19931203045999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931203045999A), Dec 3, 1993: Bell 412, Cameron, LA, Destroyed. During approach to helipad. Impacted 300FT short. Burned. SIC at controls. Due fog and haze visual contact lost. 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.