Eurocopter Deutschland BO-105 CBS5 accident near Santa Rosa Bch, FL
On October 20, 2004, an Eurocopter Deutschland BO-105 CBS5 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Santa Rosa Bch, FL. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 20, 2004
- Place
- Santa Rosa Bch, FL
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland BO-105 CBS5 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 30.418°N, 86.148°W
- NTSB ID
- 20041025X01691
Official records · MIA05FA008
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
History of the Flight On October 20, 2004, about 0043 central daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland BO-105 CBS5, N916SH, call sign Airheart One, registered to and operated by Metro Aviation, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 emergency medical services (EMS) positioning flight, from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, to DeFuniak Springs, Florida, crashed in Choctawhatchee Bay, near Santa Rosa Beach. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the accident area at the time and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The helicopter was destroyed and the commercial-rated pilot, paramedic, and flight nurse were fatally injured. The flight originated from Santa Rosa Beach at 0041. Personnel from the Walton County, Florida, Emergency Operations Center, stated that at 0021 they received a call from Healthmark Hospital in DeFuniak Springs, requesting the Airheart One helicopter to transport a patient to West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. The dispatcher then contacted the pilot of Airheart One and advised him of the request. The pilot stated he would have to check the weather and get back to him. At 0035, the pilot called back and stated they would take the flight. At 0041, the paramedic on Airheart One called via radio and reported they were airborne with three persons on board, 2 hours 20 minutes of fuel, and an estimated time en route to Healthmark Hospital of 10 minutes. At 0043, the paramedic reported that due to weather they were returning to base. The dispatcher did not talk with the flight after this. At 0050, the dispatcher cleared the Airheart One call,
Probable cause
The pilot's spatial disorientation and in-flight loss of control of the helicopter after encountering night instrument meteorological conditions resulting in collision with water during the resultant uncontrolled descent. A factor in the accident was the pilot's decision to attempt the flight when instrument meteorological conditions were forecasted for the area.
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Browse: Florida
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
