Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident near Hazelhurst, WI
On April 27, 2018, an Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Hazelhurst, WI. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 27, 2018
- Place
- Hazelhurst, WI
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.754°N, 89.696°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180427X55413
Official records · CEN18FA149
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- Actuator, Hydraulic Pump, and Sound Assistance From The BEA: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- Attachment 1 - Onboard Image, Audio and Data Recorder - Parametric Data: Document (CSV), on ntsb.gov
- Attachment 2 - Onboard Image, Audio and Data Recorder - Parametric Data: Document (CSV), on ntsb.gov
- Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- D. Keenan, FAA: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 26, 2018, about 2243 central daylight time, a Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter, N127LN, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Hazelhurst, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot and two emergency medical services crewmembers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. According to the operator, Air Methods Corporation, the pilot and the medical crewmembers transported a patient from the Howard Young Medical Center Heliport (60WI), Woodruff, Wisconsin, to the Merrill Municipal Airport (RRL), Merrill, Wisconsin, departing about 1759 and arriving about 1819. The helicopter then departed from RRL about 1832 with another patient aboard and landed at the UW Hospital and Clinics Heliport (WS27), Madison, Wisconsin, about 1937. The patient was offloaded, and the helicopter departed WS27 about 2028 for refueling at Dane County Regional Airport (MSN), Madison, Wisconsin, arriving about 2037. About 2104, the pilot radioed the operator to report that the helicopter was ready to depart MSN for 60WI. According to information from the helicopter's on-board Appareo Vision 1000 recorder (which records image, audio, and parametric data), the pilot conducted a preflight of the helicopter with the engine operating, and no anomalies were detected. Yawning and sighs were heard. The pilot requested clearance to 60WI and departed about 2107. About 1 minute later, the pilot asked if the medical crew was "alright back there," and one of the medical crewmembers responded "yup." One of the me
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of helicopter control as a result of fatigue during cruise flight at night.
More accidents in WI
- Douglas DC-9-14, Sep 6, 1985
- Beech 200, Nov 16, 1987
- Piper PA-28-140, Feb 3, 1991
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 19, 1990
- Cessna 421C, Jul 1, 2017
Browse: Wisconsin · 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.
