Aerospatiale AS350-D accident near Falkner, MS
On January 6, 2005, an Aerospatiale AS350-D (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Falkner, MS. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- January 6, 2005
- Place
- Falkner, MS
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350-D · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.822°N, 88.892°W
- NTSB ID
- 20050111X00036
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 5, 2005, at 2303 central standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350-D, N350RM, registered to Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC. doing business as Air Methods Corporation, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 air ambulance positioning flight, collided with trees and the ground in the vicinity of Falkner, Mississippi. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site and a company flight plan was filed. The pilot did not call the Medical Program Communications Center to initiate flight following after takeoff. The helicopter was destroyed. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from an open field located adjacent to County Road 564 in the vicinity of Falkner, Mississippi, on January 5, 2005, at 2303. According to Air Methods personnel, the pilot was dispatched from North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, to an automobile accident located in the vicinity of County Road 564. The pilot called the Medical Program Communications Center by cell phone at 2100 and stated he had a problem with a damaged chin bubble. A company mechanic drove to the accident scene. During the drive the mechanic encountered moderate rain and some gusty winds. Upon arrival at the accident site, the mechanic inspected, and made a temporary repair on the helicopter chin bubble. The mechanic stated, "the weather at this time appeared to be deteriorating with both ceiling and visibility limited. It was difficult to judge as there were no lights in the area." The mechanic mentioned to the pilot that he might have to leave the aircraft and re
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to attempt VFR flight into known instrument flight conditions and failure to maintain altitude clearance resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and the ground.
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Browse: Mississippi · 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.
