- Date
- April 27, 1982, 23:55 local (Apr 28, 1982, 03:55 UTC)
- Place
- New Ringgold, PA
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1022HMBB BO-105C
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820427070769A
- Case key
- 71997
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 helicopter was leased by the allentown sacred heart hospital. At 2236 EDT, the pilot, who was standing by for duty, obtained a weather briefing. Later, at 2312, there was a request for a med-evac helicopter to respond to a car accident. The helicopter departed 10 min later and landed at the site at 2343 EDT. A short time later, the helicopter lifted off with a patient, two nurses and a pilot on board. At that time, the weather conditions were very rainy with a mild breeze. Reportedly, the helicopter departed toward the southeast with the searchlight on. A short time later, it impacted on rising terrain in a steep nose down attitude and in a right bank. A witness reported seeing the helicopter cross over trees with the searchlight on, pointing down, before impact. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. Rotational damage was found in both engine. An FAA form 337, dated 4/27/82, revealed that a nightsun searchlight had been installed and the weight and balance had been adjusted for the installation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1022H
- Reported as
- MBB BO-105C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- S-116
- Airframe hours
- 3,639
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20B, 400 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Keystone Helicopter Corporatio
- Registered owner
- Mbb Helicopter Corporation
- Departed
- New Ringgold, PA
- Destination
- Allentown, PA
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
- 27
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,913 total · 75 in this make and model · 33 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles
- Temperature
- 113 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.