ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 42671
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| Date: | Friday 19 November 1993 |
| Time: | 20:39 |
| Type: |  Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II |
| Owner/operator: | Airmed Skycare Inc opb Echo Helicopter Inc |
| Registration: | N911ME |
| MSN: | 45553 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1980 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2220 hours |
| Engine model: | ALLISON A250-C28B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | sea 7 mi E of Portland, Cumberland County, ME -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Ellsworth, ME |
| Portland International Jetport, ME (PWM/KPWM) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On November 19, 1993, at 2039 eastern standard time, a Bell 206-L-1, N911ME, landed hard during a forced landing touchdown in the Atlantic Ocean seven miles east of Portland International Jetport, Portland, Maine. The helicopter was owned by Airmed Skycare Inc of Portland, and operated by Echo Helicopter Inc. of Portland, Maine. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries, while two of the three passengers were fatally injured. The third passenger has not been recovered and is presumed to be fatally injured. The helicopter was submerged in 85 feet of water and was destroyed. The flight was conducted under part 14 CFR 135. The medical evacuation flight originated in Ellsworth, Maine.
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD DEPARTED PORTLAND EARLIER WITH 2 HR 45 MIN OF FUEL TO PICK UP THE PATIENT AT ELLSWORTH. HE STATED THAT HIS TOTAL CAPACITY WAS ABOUT 57O LBS, AND THE FUEL BURN FOR THE HELICOPTER WAS 200-220 LBS/HR. HE SAID THE 97 NM FLIGHT IS NORMALLY COMPLETED UNDER 1 HR, BUT TOOK 1 HR 10 MIN DUE TO WINDS. HE THEN DEPARTED ELLSWORTH WITH 310 LBS OF FUEL FOR THE RETURN FLIGHT. DURING THE RETURN FLIGHT TO PORTLAND HE ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND A 'SUBSTANTTIAL HEAD WIND OF 40 TO 60 KNOTS.' WHILE BEING VECTORED INTO PORTLAND THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE HELICOPTER DITCHED IN THE OCEAN IN ROUGH SEAS 7 MI EAST OF THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR EMS PROCEDURES, IT STATES IN PART, 'THE MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE WEATHER IS IN VFR CONDITIONS...'.
Probable Cause: THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, AND HIS FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUEL WAS AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE WEATHER, THE DARK NIGHT AND THE ROUGH SEA CONDITION.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001211X13692
Images:
Photo: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 07-Feb-2009 10:19 | harro | Updated |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 12-Oct-2022 00:56 | Captain Adam | Updated [Operator, Location, Destination airport, Narrative, Accident report, Photo] |
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