MD Helicopters MD 900 N902LC

Summary

On 27 November 2014 at about 05:21 local time, a MD Helicopters MD 900 registered N902LC, operated by Air Methods Corporation, was involved in an accident near Highlandville, Missouri, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 November 2014 at 05:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Highlandville, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

36.9297, -93.2792

Aircraft

MD Helicopters MD 900

Registration

N902LC

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

2

Operator

Air Methods Corporation

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Springfield → Springfield

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN15LA066

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inability to identify the power line during the initial approach in night visual meteorological conditions and his subsequent failure to avoid the power line once he identified it on final approach.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was executing an off-airport landing during night visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that he had completed two orbits of the area and had selected a large nearby field as the landing site. As the helicopter descended to about 20 ft above ground level, the pilot observed a set of power lines paralleling the helicopter's flightpath that he had not identified during the initial orbits of the landing area. He attempted to move the helicopter left to avoid the power lines, but the main rotor blades inadvertently struck one of them. The pilot maintained control of the helicopter and landed it safely. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to three of the main rotor blades. The remaining two rotor blades sustained minor damage. The pilot did not report any failures or malfunctions with the helicopter before impacting the power lines.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.