Bell 206L-1 accident near Greensburg, IN
On August 31, 2008, a Bell 206L-1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Greensburg, IN. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 31, 2008
- Place
- Greensburg, IN
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L-1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.332°N, 85.620°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080909X01417
Official records · CHI08FA269
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 31, 2008, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L-1 helicopter, N37AE, operated by Air Evac EMS Inc., was destroyed during an in-flight collision with terrain and post impact fire near Greensburg, Indiana. The flight was being conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic sustained fatal injuries. The accident flight departed at 1317 from Burney, Indiana, with the intention of returning to the aircraft's base located in Rushville, Indiana. The crew had attended a local fund raising event for the Burney fire station in a community support role. No patient transport activity was associated with the flight to the fire station, or with the accident flight. The crew had arrived at the event about 1150 that morning. The return flight lifted off at 1317. Witnesses reported that the helicopter appeared to depart the fire station without difficulty. One witness recalled seeing the helicopter clear a set of high-tension power lines east of the fire station. Witnesses stated that they subsequently saw components separate from the helicopter before it descended and impacted the ground. Local authorities from the fire station in Burney responded upon witnessing the accident. One firefighter estimated that they were on-scene within 2 minutes. The helicopter came to rest approximately 1.2 miles north-northeast of the departure point in a cornfield. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The accident pilot, age 43, held a Commercial Pilot certificate with roto
Probable cause
The in-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to a fatigue failure of the blade spar, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable, and the manufacturer's production of main rotor blades with latent manufacturing defects, which precipitated the fatigue failure of the blade spar.
More accidents in IN
- Pilatus PC-12, May 25, 2011
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-60, Sep 11, 1992
- Cessna 310N, Nov 20, 1984
- Cessna T303, Nov 14, 2006
- Cessna U206G, Apr 21, 2006
Browse: Indiana · Bell 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.
