MBB BO-105CBS N90750

Summary

On 13 December 1996 at about 02:13 local time, a MBB BO-105CBS registered N90750, operated by EMS Air Services of New York, was involved in an accident near Penn Yan, New York, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 1996 at 02:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Penn Yan, New York, United States

Coordinates

42.5900, -77.1498

Aircraft

MBB BO-105CBS

Registration

N90750

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

EMS Air Services of New York

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jersusalem → Rochester

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

IAD97FA032

3 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance from the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's diverted attention to the GPS, darkness, low ceiling, rising terrain, and high wind condition.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot landed the helicopter in an open field for a medical evacuation. He had planned to fly to a hospital about 40 miles northwest. After takeoff, the pilot radioed the company dispatcher that he was airborne, and to standby for time and distance to the destination. The distance would be obtained from a GPS located on the rear of the helicopter's center console. About 2 minutes later, the helicopter crashed in a secluded wooded area on rising terrain about 1.1 miles northwest of the departure point. Witnesses reported that the cloud cover and the isolated area made a dark night with no discernable horizon. Winds were reported as strong and gusty from the south/southeast. The topography surrounding the area included rising terrain, with peaks at 2,700 feet msl. The helicopter had departed an airport with an elevation of 814 feet msl. The pick-up point was 1,540 feet msl, and the accident site was 1,740 feet msl. Cloud cover in the area was at 1,900 to 2,000 feet msl.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.