Air Methods Pilot Mike Bollen, 46, of Hot Springs, Arkansas
Pafford EMS Flight Nurse Jim Spruiell, 61, of Sulligent, Alabama
Pafford Flight Paramedic Trey Auld, 26, of Shreveport, Louisiana
The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entities:
Federal Aviation Administration; Washington, District of Columbia
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas
Rolls-Royce; Indianapolis, Indiana
Air Methods; Englewood, Colorado
Transportation Safety Board of Canada; Gatineau, QC
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
https://registry.faa.gov/N620PA
Location: Stuttgart, AR
Accident Number: CEN18FA033
Date & Time: 11/19/2017, 1855 CST
Registration: N620PA
Aircraft: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 407
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Birdstrike
Injuries: 3 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Discretionary)
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On November 19, 2017, about 1855 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N620PA, impacted terrain near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The pilot and two medical crewmembers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Methods Corporation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the positioning flight, which was operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, at 1820 and was en route to pick up a patient in Helena, Arkansas.
The helicopter was transmitting its position to the company via satellite communications. At 1855:50, the helicopter transmitted that it was heading 070°, traveling 116 knots at 1,252 ft mean sea level. This was the last recorded data point. The company initiated a search when satellite tracking was lost, and the wreckage was located several hours later. There were no known witnesses to the accident.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot was a former military helicopter pilot having flown both AH-64 and OH-58 helicopters. He had been employed as a helicopter air ambulance pilot for over 3 years. He was assigned to the Pine Bluff area on September 30, 2016.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The helicopter was modified via type supplemental certificate for helicopter air ambulance operations.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
A weather study conducted for the accident area did not reveal any weather hazards around the time of the accident. Both the sun and the moon were more than 15° below the horizon, and dark night conditions existed with no illumination from the moon.
The nearest areas of cultural light were over 13 miles away.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
The helicopter was found on the bank of a reservoir on its right side on a heading about 205°. All major components of the helicopter were accounted for at the site. A postimpact fire consumed a majority of the fuselage. The flight controls were fractured and fire-damaged. The cyclic, collective, and anti-torque pedals were fractured at the cockpit floor. All control mixing lever hardware was present with safety wires in place. Fractures on the control tubes were consistent with overload. The helicopter "broom closet" was consumed by fire. Control continuity was observed from the swashplate to the main rotor pitch change links. All main rotor blades remained attached to the main rotor hub. All blades were fractured in multiple locations; blade remnants and blade core pieces were found surrounding the accident site. The tail rotor drive shaft segments remained continuous with a small portion totally consumed by fire. The tail rotor blade rotated freely when the tail rotor drive shaft was rotated by hand. The tail rotor blades remained attached to the tail rotor yoke. Fragments of the pilot's night vision goggles were located in the area of the pilot controls. (Company policy required pilots and one crewmember to wear night vision goggles during night flights.) No preimpact anomalies were detected during postaccident examination of the helicopter airframe or engine. During the on-scene portion of the investigation, numerous geese, ducks, and cranes were observed in the reservoir and at another nearby reservoir.
Multiple bird remains were found from the cockpit area to the first bulkhead. Samples from the bird remains were sent to the Feather Identification Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The Arkansas Crime Laboratory, Little Rock, Arkansas, conducted an autopsy on the pilot. The cause of death was multiple injuries. The autopsy noted white bird feathers embedded in the pilot's coveralls and right boot. Samples of the bird feathers were also sent to the Smithsonian for examination.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Bioaeronautical Science Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on specimens of the pilot. Testing was negative for all tested substances.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
Feather Identification Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution
Samples submitted to the Smithsonian contained remains from snow geese, which typically have an average weight of 4.8 and 5.48 lbs for females and males, respectively. The complete report is located in the public docket for this accident.
FAA Wildlife Strike Database
A review of the FAA Wildlife Strike Database found a strike report for November 17, 2011, about 0705 central standard time; the pilot of a Cessna 210 airplane reported striking a snow goose near the area of the accident site.
United States Air Force Bird Avoidance Model
The US Air Force developed a Bird Avoidance Model (BAM) that analyzes and correlates bird habitats, migration patterns, and breeding characteristics with key environmental and man-made geospatial data. This model is used by military pilots and planners to monitor bird activity for strike mitigation purposes. Civilian pilots are not required to use the model and the investigation was unable to determine if the accident pilot was aware of the available information. At dusk, the strike probability for the accident area was forecast to be severe, and at night, the strike probability reduced to moderate. Overlays of this information with the helicopter's flight path is included in the public docket of this report.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Certification Standards
The Bell 407 is certificated under 14 CFR Part 27 as a normal category rotorcraft. As such, there are no bird strike safety requirements for the windshield. Transport category rotorcraft do have a requirement under 14 CFR 29.631 to be designed to ensure capability of continued flight and/or landing, however the design requirement assumed a single 2.2 lbs bird. The accident involved numerous birds in excess of 4 lbs each.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 46, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 2 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/31/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 4000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 214.5 hours (Total, this make and model), 2975.1 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 43.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 14.5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA
Registration: N620PA
Model/Series: 407 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 54610
Landing Gear Type: High Skid;
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/17/2017, AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 5501 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 1055 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Rolls Royce
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: 250-C-47B/8
Registered Owner: AIR METHODS CORP
Rated Power: 813 hp
Operator: AIR METHODS CORP
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As: Air Methods
Operator Designator Code: QMLA
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: SGT, 223 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0056 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 354°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 360°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 7°C / -2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Pines Bluff, AR
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Helena, AR
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1820 CST
Type of Airspace: Class E
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 3 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 3 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 34.284444, -91.543889
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