Bell 222 accident near Aurora, IL
On October 16, 2008, a Bell 222 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Aurora, IL. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 16, 2008
- Place
- Aurora, IL
- Aircraft
- Bell 222 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 41.769°N, 88.246°W
- NTSB ID
- 20081016X94016
Official records · CEN09MA019
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
- Investigation page: status, final report and safety recommendations
Air traffic control records
- ATC 3 - Factual Report of Group Chairman: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Dupage ATCT Map Training Info: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 15, 2008, at 2358 central daylight time, a Bell 222 helicopter, N992AA, operated by Air Angels Inc., and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a radio station tower and the ground in Aurora, Illinois. The tower stood 734 feet above ground level. A post crash fire ensued. The emergency medical services (EMS) transport flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, and was en route from the Valley West Hospital Heliport (0LL7), Sandwich, Illinois, to the Children’s Memorial Hospital Heliport (40IS), Chicago, Illinois, when the accident occurred. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident site. All four occupants, including the pilot, a flight paramedic, a flight nurse, and the 14 month old patient, were fatally injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes prior to the accident. Reach dispatch (Air Angels flights were dispatched by Reach Air Medical Services in Santa Rosa, California) was notified of the need for EMS transport at 2112 and opened a case record at that time. At 2113, the flight was accepted by Air Angels; however, the flight did not depart the Air Angels base in Bolingbrook, Illinois until 2254. The flight had been delayed until a receiving hospital could be identified. At 2311, N992AA arrived at 0LL7. At 2338, the pilot made a flight following call to Reach dispatch as required in Reach/Air Angels protocol. The flight following call included the helicopter's takeoff weight of 7,635 pounds, the helicopter's center of gravity of 251.7 inches, center of g
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the 734-foot-tall lighted tower during the visual night flight due to inadequate preflight planning, insufficient altitude, and a flight route too low to clear the tower. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to issue a safety alert as required by Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control. Vice
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Browse: Illinois · 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.
