CEN10FA509
NTSB Identification:
CEN10FA509
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, August 31, 2010 in Walnut Grove, AR
Aircraft: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 206L-1, registration: N62AE
Injuries: 3 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 31, 2010, approximately 0400 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-1, N62AE, owned and operated by Air Evac EMS Inc, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following an in-flight break-up near Walnut Grove, Arkansas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The positioning flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 on a company flight plan. The Emergency Medical Services flight departed Vilonia, Arkansas, approximately 0340 and was en route to Crabtree, Arkansas, to pick up a patient.
Several witnesses in the area reported that the sounds of the rotor blades were normal and then heard the sound of the rotor blades slow in speed. One witness reported seeing the helicopter circle above his home. Another witness reported hearing an “explosion” and shortly thereafter the sound of crushing or crashing metal and “tin.” Another witness reported hearing an increase in the engine sound before hearing the helicopter impact the ground.
A preliminary review of Federal Aviation Administration radar data depicts the helicopter flying from the southeast to the northwest. The helicopter initiated a turn to the left and then a turn to the right, and then the radar target disappeared.
The helicopter was found separated into three main pieces: the main rotor assembly, the fuselage, and the tail boom. The main rotor assembly was located approximately 700 feet to the northwest of the main wreckage. The tail rotor came to rest 100 feet to the south of the main wreckage. The furthest component located was a Plexiglas chin-bubble located 0.5 miles to the north.
The main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, cabin area, and instrument panel and exhibited extensive fire and impact damage. The tail boom included the horizontal and vertical stabilizers and tail rotor and exhibited impact damage. The main rotor consisted of both blades and the main rotor yoke and there was damage exhibited to both blades.
The closet weather observation was recorded in Clinton, Arkansas, at 0355. The automated weather observation station recorded calm wind, 10 miles visibility, few clouds at 1,600 feet, ceiling broken at 4,900 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet, temperature 25 degrees Celsius, dew point 23 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.10 inches.