# NTSB LAX01LA063: Bell 206-L3, N288JB, Wilcox, AZ, December 22, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2000, 03:31 local (10:31 UTC) - Place: Wilcox, AZ - Coordinates: 32.42942, -109.879806 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4294&lon=-109.8798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50825 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50825/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's incapacitation that resulted from nausea during the final approach to landing. The pilot collapsed on the cyclic, which precipitated inadvertent contact between the main rotor blades and the ground. Factors were hilly terrain on a dark night, which discouraged the pilot from attempting to land at the first signs of discomfort. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - incapacitation(other organic problem), pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - cyclic - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis About 20 feet above the touchdown point, the pilot doubled over due to severe cramping, inadvertently moving the cyclic forward and to the right causing the main rotor blades to contact the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its side. The pilot tried to drink a glass of tea about 2 hours before the mission, but discarded it because it tasted bad. He felt a little discomfort during the mission when he detected the tea taste again. After the mission he felt better and did not expect any problems on the return to base. About 5 minutes from the base hospital, nausea, sweating, and cramps suddenly overcame the pilot, and he began to retch. It was a dark, moonless night, and rough terrain was below him. The airport was at his 12 o'clock position at 5 miles, so he elected to fly there rather than attempt an off-airport landing. He requested a sick sack about 1 minute prior to landing. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2000, at 0331 hours mountain standard time, a Bell 206-L3 helicopter, N288JB, sustained substantial damage when the pilot became ill and lost control 20 feet prior to touchdown at Cochise County Airport, Wilcox, Arizona. Critical Air Medical was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot and two crewmembers sustained minor injuries. The positioning flight departed the Tuscon Medical Center about 0300, after delivering a patient, and was returning to its base at the North Cochise County Medical Center in Wilcox. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan had been filed. The pilot told the operator's chief pilot he tried to drink a glass of tea about 2 hours before the mission, but discarded it because it tasted bad. The pilot said he felt a little discomfort during the mission when he detected the tea taste again. After the mission he reported that he felt better, and did not expect any problems on the return to base. About 5 minutes from the base hospital, the pilot said nausea, sweating, and cramps suddenly overcame him, and he began to retch. He said it was a dark, moonless night, and rough terrain was below him. The airport was at his 12 o'clock position at 5 miles, so he elected to fly there rather than attempt an off-airport landing. He requested a sick sack about 1 minute prior to landing. About 20 feet above the touchdown point, the pilot doubled over due to severe cramping. This moved the cyclic forward and to the right. The main rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N288JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N288JB-2001-07-27), registration cancelled 2001-07-27, S/N 51288 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 206-L3 - Registry model: [Bell 206L-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206l-3) (registry code 1182108) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 51288 - Airframe hours: 3277 - Engines: Allison 250-C30P 650 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Critical Air Medical - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 29, 2000, 46 hours before - Departed: TUSCON, AZ - Destination: P33 - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: P33, Cochise County, runway 3, 6,094 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,088 total, 650 in this make and model, 4,036 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 130° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 109 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TUS, 54 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 20001222027769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001222027769A), Dec 22, 2000: Bell 206L3, Willcox, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23)A/c was on the return leg of an air medical flight when the pilot advised the medical crew that he was not feeling well. The crew made a decision to land… 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.