# NTSB MIA94GA174: Aerospatiale AS-350, N901BA, Caryville, FL, July 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 6, 1994, 09:29 local (14:29 UTC) - Place: Caryville, FL - Coordinates: 30.77069, -85.810974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7707&lon=-85.8110&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 3, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37437 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94GA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37437/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94GA174 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT FATIGUE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue(lack of sleep), pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE PILOT DEPARTED TALLAHASSEE IN MARGINAL VFR CONDITIONS. THE CEILING WAS ESTIMATED 500-600 FT, RAGGED, AND VISIBILITY 3/4 TO 1-1/2 MI IN RAIN. OBSERVING TOWERS ABOUT 3/4 MI IN FRONT OF HIS FLIGHT PATH, HE REDUCED AIRSPEED, TURNED RIGHT TOWARDS A BORROW PIT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN OVER, AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN. VISIBILITY DROPPED TO ABOUT 1/2-1/4 MI, AND THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT FLIGHT CONDITIONS. THE PILOT STARTED A DESCENT TO 200 FT AGL, REGAINED VISUAL FLIGHT CONDITIONS, SAW THE BORROW PIT, AND CONTINUED THE DESCENT WITH A FAST CLOSURE RATE. A DECELERATION DESCRIBED SIMILAR TO A QUICK STOP WAS INITIATED, AND THE TAILROTOR COLLIDED WITH THE WATER. THE HELICOPTER PITCHED FORWARD, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE WATER, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE PILOT CONCLUDED HIS JUDGMENT WAS IMPAIRED FROM FATIGUE DUE TO LACK OF SLEEP. ## Factual narrative On July 6, 1994, about 0929 central daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS350, N901BA, registered to Bulldog Airlines Inc., leased to the United States Department of Interior for use by the United States Forrest Service, Region Eight, on a public-use ferry flight, encountered inadvertent instrument conditions, and crashed in the water in a borrow pit in the vicinity of Caryville, Florida. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The airline transport pilot was not injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Tallahassee, Florida, about 47 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he obtained a weather briefing from the FAA flight service station. He was informed the Alberto depression had stalled out, no advisory of "VFR flight not recommended" was given, but it was obvious instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. He departed Tallahassee, Florida, in marginal VFR flight conditions flying westbound over Interstate 10. The ceiling was ragged estimated between 500 to 600 feet, visibility between 3/4 to 1 1/2 miles with light rain. He observed towers about 3/4 of a mile in front of his flight path. He reduced his airspeed, turned to the right to go around the towers, encountered heavy rain, and visibility dropped to about 1/2 to 1/4 mile. The turn was continued towards a borrow pit that he had previously over flown when he encountered instrument flight conditions. He started a descent to 200 feet agl, regained visual conditions, saw the borrow pit and continued his descent with a fast closure rate. He made a deceleration described similar to a quick stop. The tailrotor collided with the water, the helicopter pitched forward, the main rotor blade collided with the water, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. He exited the helicopter through the passenger door and swam to shore. The pilot concluded his judgement and situational response was impaired from fatigue due to lack of sleep. He further stated he should have waited for the weather to clear or should have flown further south along the shore. ## Aircraft - Registration: N901BA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2452 - Airframe hours: 1101 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1 732 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Public use - Operator: Usda Forest Service - Registered owner: Bulldog Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 21, 1994, 59 hours before - Departed: TLH, TALLAHASSE, FL - Destination: CEW, CRESTVIEW, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,968 total, 680 in this make and model, 3,896 as pilot in command, 117 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 102 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 19940706017639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940706017639A), Jul 6, 1994: Snias AS350B, Caryville, FL, Substantial damage. Departed in marginal weather that worsened by low clouds heavy rain. On descent quick stop. Tail hit then rotors. 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.