Aerospatiale 355 N355MF

Summary

On 12 February 1999 at about 22:20 local time, a Aerospatiale 355 registered N355MF, operated by Corporate Jet Inc, was involved in an accident near Toledo, Ohio, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 February 1999 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Toledo, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Aerospatiale 355

Registration

N355MF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Corporate Jet Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toledo → Toledo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC99LA059

3 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's decision to continue the flight which resulted in inadvertent flight into IMC, and the subsequent spatial disorientation and loss of control. A factor in the accident was the inaccuracy of the weather forecast.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight departed the hospital for a routine Night VFR patient pickup and transport. Approximately 5 miles from Toledo Express Airport, the pilot received Toledo Express' current weather which included 1/4 mile in heavy snow showers. The pilot aborted the flight. Twenty seconds later Toledo advised the pilot that visibility had improved to 3 miles. Also, a company pilot operating in the vicinity of the pilot's destination, reported 2 to 3 miles of visibility, and a couple of snow squalls that could easily be circumnavigated. With this information the pilot elected to resume the mission, but once on course, he still felt flight conditions were inadequate. He aborted the flight for a second time. While en route to the departure point, the helicopter entered IMC. According to the flight nurse 'the pilot was fighting the helicopter with both hands.' The flight doctor stated that he lost visual contact with the ground for approximately 2 minutes, and regained it just before impact. The helicopter impacted a tree, and then a house seriously injuring the three occupants. In addition, the weather forecast obtained by the pilot prior to departure did not match actual conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.