- Date
- February 26, 2000, 02:16 local (08:16 UTC)
- Place
- Karns, TN
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N411UTBell 412
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000226009259A
- Case key
- 48685
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 maintain a visual lookout while repo sitioning the helicopter at a road side landing zone resulting in an in-flight (hover) collision with a tree.
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 pilot stated he landed at an landing zone to pick up in jured personnel. The slope was too steep so he decided to reposition the helicopter, and picked up to a hover. He was looking out the left side of the helicopter watching wires next to a driveway. He turned the tail to the right and the tail rotor collided with a 15 foot tall tree.
Factual narrative
On February 26, 2000, at about 0216 central standard time, a Bell 412, N411UT, registered to University Health System Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 air ambulance positioning flight, experienced an in-flight collision with a tree with maneuvering at a road side landing zone (LZ). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot, flight nurse and emergency medical technician reported no injuries. The flight originated about 15 minutes before the accident.
The pilot stated he landed at an LZ to pick up injured personal. The slope was of the terrain was too steep, so he decided to reposition the helicopter and picked up to a hover. He was looking out the left side of the helicopter watching wires next to a driveway. He turned the tail to the right and the tail rotor collided with about a 15-foot-tall tree. There were loud grinding noises and the helicopter yawed to the right. He reduced collective and the helicopter came to rest on the skids.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N411UT
- Reported as
- Bell 412
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 33125
- Airframe hours
- 5,259
- Engine
- P&W PT6-T-3B, 970 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- University Health Systems Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- AAIP · February 17, 2000 · 17 hours before
- Departed
- 95A · Knoxville, TN
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 44
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,891 total · 1,838 in this make and model · 46 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TYS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.