Aerospatiale AS350B accident near Frankfort, IL
On October 30, 1997, an Aerospatiale AS350B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Frankfort, IL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 30, 1997
- Place
- Frankfort, IL
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.490°N, 87.830°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08960
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 30, 1997, about 0340 central standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350B helicopter, N911RR, was destroyed on impact with the terrain and a post crash fire at the Frankfort Airport, near Frankfort, Illinois. The public use familiarization flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. Both the civilian contract instructor pilot and the Illinois State Trooper pilot sustained fatal injuries. Witnesses indicated that the helicopter was maneuvering in the vicinity of the airport for about 40 minutes prior to the accident. The flight departed the Chicago Midway Airport at 0244. According to a witness, "At around 3:00 a.m. on 10/30/97 I was working...when other employees who had been on their break had told me a helicopter was flying in the area of Frankfort Airport looking like it was trying to land. Then at around 3:40 a.m. I took my break and was standing next to my car which was parked at the northeast corner of the building. I was watching the helicopter traveling in an easterly direction flying low above the building...when it circled back in a westerly direction some where around the east end of the runway. While heading west above the runway it looked like it was getting ready to land. When the helicopter was about 5 to 10 feet above the ground I turned my back getting into my car when I heard an explosion and then a second explosion and turned around and saw the flames from above the truck which was parked between the airport and my car. I then took a few steps to the east and then saw the helico
Probable cause
the pilot in command misjudged the clearance with the terrain during a dark night maneuvering approach to a runway. A related factor was the dark night conditions.
More accidents in IL
- Beech 1900C, Nov 19, 1996
- Beech C-45H, Sep 7, 1992
- Hawker Siddeley HS-748-2A, Oct 12, 1983
- Cessna 414A, Apr 7, 2015
- Cessna 172P, Jul 19, 1997
Browse: Illinois · Aerospatiale aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
