Eurocopter AS 350 B3 accident near Somerville, TN
On October 22, 2013, an Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Somerville, TN. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 22, 2013
- Place
- Somerville, TN
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B3 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.230°N, 89.380°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131022X92949
Official records · ERA14FA010
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Cell Tower Data: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn October 22, 2013, about 0605 central daylight time (CDT), a Eurocopter AS 350 B3, N353HW, impacted trees and terrain near Somerville, Tennessee. The certificated commercial pilot, a registered nurse, and a respiratory therapist were fatally injured; the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Memphis Medical Center Air Ambulance Service, doing business as Hospital Wing, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a positioning flight. The flight operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Hospital Wing Heliport (2TN0), Memphis, Tennessee, at 0547 and was en route to Whitehurst Field Heliport (60TN), Bolivar, Tennessee. According to company personnel, the accident pilot arrived for work about 1730 on October 21 and began his flight planning procedures, which included a review of the local area weather and completion of the company's risk assessment checklist. About 0025 on October 22, a call came in to company, requesting helicopter services to Piperton, Tennessee to pick up a patient. The pilot completed a weather check at 0026 and the flight departed 2TN0 at 0035. About two minutes later, the pilot aborted the flight and returned to 2TN0 due to low ceilings. The flight was cancelled due to weather. At 0137, another call was received by the company for helicopter services in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The accident pilot declined the flight due to weather. At 0500, another request for helicopter services was received by th
Probable cause
The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with night, instrument meteorological conditions while responding to an obstacle alert, resulting in an in-flight loss of helicopter control.
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Browse: Tennessee · Eurocopter 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.
