Aerospatiale AS350B N911RR
30 October 1997 · Frankfort, Illinois, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 30 October 1997 at about 09:40 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N911RR, operated by Illinios State Police, was involved in an accident near Frankfort, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 09:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Frankfort, Illinois, United States
- Nearest airport
- Frankfort Airport (C18)
- Coordinates
- 41.4900, -87.8300
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Registration
- N911RR
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Illinios State Police
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Chicago → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- CHI98GA025
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
the pilot in command misjudged the clearance with the terrain during a dark night maneuvering approach to a runway. A related factor was the dark night conditions.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
A witness reported that he was watching the helicopter traveling in an easterly direction flying low above the building when it circled back in a westerly direction somewhere around the east end of the runway. While heading west above the runway it looked like it was getting ready to land. He said that when the helicopter was about 5 to 10 feet above the ground he turned his back getting into his car. He heard an explosion and then a second explosion and when he turned around he saw the flames from above the truck which was parked between the airport and his car. He said he then took a few steps to the east and then saw the helicopter in flames. The helicopter was destroyed on impact with the terrain and a post-crash-fire alongside runway 09/27. A post accident examination of the helicopter disclosed no evidence of any pre-existing anomaly with the helicopter or the engine.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec 1996 | Aerospatiale AS350B | East Cameron 71 | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1999 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Grand Canyon Pk, Arizona, United States | Silverado Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 27 Mar 2000 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Van Nuys, California, United States | Helinet Corporation | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Kalaupapa, Hawaii, United States | Hawaii Helicopers | Serious injuries | - |
| 29 May 1992 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2002 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Kingman, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jul 1997 | Snow S2C | Viola, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1997 | Waco UPF-7 | Springfield, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Kearns RV-6 | Harrisburg, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Aug 1997 | Champion 7KCAB | Hampshire, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 1997 | Piper PA-25-235 | Hinckley, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1997 | Cessna P210 | Grayslake, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |