Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh EC 135 accident near New Castle, DE
On May 25, 2017, an Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh EC 135 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near New Castle, DE. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 25, 2017
- Place
- New Castle, DE
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh EC 135 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.659°N, 75.601°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170525X33813
Official records · ERA17FA190
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Factual Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Factual Report - Attachment 1: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Factual Report - Attachment 2: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Factual Report - Attachment 3: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC Factual Report - Attachment 4: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 25, 2017, at 1153 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2 helicopter, N62UP, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near New Castle, Delaware. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to the University of Pennsylvania and was being operated by Metro Aviation, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident site about the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight originated from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, at 1117. According to a representative of Metro Aviation, a helicopter air ambulance operator, the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice instrument approaches at New Castle Airport (ILG), Wilmington, Delaware, pick up a clearance in flight, and then return to ACY. The pilot obtained weather briefings via the Foreflight application at 1026 and 1042. The briefings included weather observations, forecasts, and NOTAMs for the departure, destination, and selected en route stations; PIREPs (pilot reports); and in-flight weather advisories for the planned flight. At 1043, the pilot submitted a flight request form to the company, which documented the weather products he reviewed before the flight and indicated that he was aware of the reported and forecast weather conditions for the route before departure. After reviewing the request, weather, and risk assessment, the compa
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of helicopter control during a missed approach in instrument meteorological conditions due to spatial disorientation and the cumulative effects of task saturation.
More accidents in DE
- Cessna 750, Mar 1, 2012
- Piper PA28, Sep 26, 2015
- Fairchild Hiller FH-1100, May 23, 2010
- Beech BE-200, Jun 16, 1992
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Browse: Delaware
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
