ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 34956
Last updated: 23 May 2013
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| Date: | 24-JUL-2000 |
| Time: | 230 |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS 350B |
| Operator: | Critical Care Medflight |
| Registration: | N911AM |
| C/n / msn: | 1319 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Sumner, GA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Savannah, GA (SAV) |
| Sylvester, GA (SYV) |
The flight was returning to the Worth County Baptist Hospital in Sylvester, Georgia. At approximately 0227, the pilot contacted the LifeFlight dispatcher and reported a Global Position System (GPS) location 7 miles west/northwest of Tifton, Georgia. No further communication was received from the pilot. Witnesses in the sparsely populated local area stated that it was a dark night and at about 0230 they heard the helicopter fly over their homes. They said the sky was clear of clouds and that the helicopter was low, maybe 400 to 500 feet above the ground. One witness stated that he watched the helicopter fly until out of site then heard a "pop sound" he said it sounded unusual and was not very loud. The flight failed to arrive at its final destination of Sylvester, Georgia. Examination of the wreckage found it localized in a heavily wooded area, with the skids buried in the ground with the trailing ends protruding upward at about a 70-degree angle. No pre-existing airframe or engine malfunctions were identified during the post crash examination. CAUSE: The pilot experienced spatial disorientation, which resulted in a loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing factors was the dark night.
Sources:
NTSB: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21362
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
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