NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On December 31, 2014, at 1710 mountain standard time, a Bell 206L-4, N57AW, collided with terrain 7 miles west of Benson, AZ. The commercial pilot and pilot rated mechanic were fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was registered to N57AW LLC and operated by Airwest Helicopters under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Glendale, AZ, at 1550 and was destined for Sierra Vista, AZ.

The helicopter had been at the Airwest facilities in Glendale undergoing a 100-hour inspection. The inspection was completed immediately prior to the helicopter's departure. The purpose of the flight was to reposition the helicopter to Sierra Vista, where it was contracted to provide air support to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office the next day. The Chief Pilot stated that he had numerous face to face discussions with the pilot about the maintenance work being done on the helicopter and the weather conditions. Both the accident pilot and Chief Pilot were comfortable with the intended flight to Sierra Vista. An Airwest mechanic accompanied the pilot on the repositioning flight in order to perform the main rotor mast nut torque check after they landed, which was due within the next 5 flight hours.

The operator reported that the helicopter had not arrived at its destination and that the Sky Connect Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) system indicated that the helicopter was at a stationary location between Tucson and Benson, Arizona. The Cochise County Sheriff located the helicopter wreckage about 2030 at the location the Sky Connect system was reporting. The helicopter was fragmented into multiple pieces along a 174 foot long debris path. Witnesses living in the local area reported hearing a low flying helicopter around the time of the accident, and that the visibility at ground level was very limited, with low clouds and fog.

While en route, the pilot had established communications with Tucson Approach at 17 miles northwest of Tucson International Airport and received flight following as he transited through the Tucson Class C airspace, following Interstate 10. Radar services were terminated after the helicopter exited the Class C area about 17:03.

The helicopter was equipped with a Sky Connect Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) system which reports the helicopters position, heading, direction of flight, altitude, and speed approximately every 2 minutes. Sky Connect recorded the helicopter departing Glendale to the southeast at 15:50. The track proceeded to follow highway I-10 at an altitude of about 300 feet above ground level (agl). During the last 10 minutes of flight, the track recorded that the helicopter descended to about 200 feet agl while remaining over I-10. The last Sky Connect point was recorded at 17:10, and indicated that the helicopter had climbed to over 500 feet agl and had drifted a half mile south of I-10. The final Sky Connect recorded point was 0.4 miles west of the accident site, and 0.5 miles south of I-10.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 48, held a commercial pilot certificate for rotorcraft-helicopter with an instrument rating, and airplane single engine land private pilot privileges, issued May 29, 2014. Additionally he held a flight instructor certificate rating for helicopter issued on March 6, 2014. He held a second class medical certificate issued on January 27, 2014, with the limitation that he must have eye glasses for near vision available. A review of the pilot's log book revealed that he had 1,413 hours of total flight time, 1,136 hours in helicopters, and 195 hours in the Bell 206L. Within the previous 90 days he had accumulated 80.6 hours in the Bell 206L, 6.7 hours of night time, and 0.3 of simulated instrument time. Within the previous 30 days he had flown 33.3 hours in the Bell 206L, 2.2 hours of night time, and zero hours of instrument time. The pilot's most recent flight review was dated October 15, 2014.

The pilot had been employed by Airwest since October 2013, and had been a full time employee since May 2014. He was on a seven days on and seven days off work schedule with the change in shift occurring on Wednesdays. The pilot started his duty week on Wednesday, Dec 26. The helicopter was down for maintenance for Dec 29, 30, and 31, and no flights were conducted on December 29 and 30. The pilot resided in the Phoenix area and spent the evenings at home while the helicopter underwent maintenance. December 31 was the last day of his 7-day shift, and he planned to reposition the helicopter to Sierra Vista, then he and the mechanic would drive back to Phoenix.

The pilot rated passenger, age 59, held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and multiengine land, and rotorcraft-helicopter issued on January 26, 2009. He held type ratings for the Boeing 737, Bell 206, and Cessna 500 Citation. He held a flight instructor certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter issued on November 24, 2014. He held a mechanic certificate with ratings for airframe and power plant including inspection authorization. He held a first class medical certificate with no limitations issued on December 12, 2014. On his most recent first class medical application he reported his total flight time was 18,986 hours and had flown 186 hours in the previous six months.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The five-seat, conventionally configured single engine helicopter, with skid type landing gear, serial number 52004, was manufactured in 1992. It was powered by an Allison 250 C30P 650-shp engine. A review of the maintenance logbooks documented that the most recent 100-hour inspection was completed on December 31, 2014. Total aircraft time was 8,116.7 hours. A main rotor mast nut torque check was due within the next 5 hours. Total engine time was 13,539.4 hours, and 2,030.5 hours since major overhaul.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The National Weather Service (NWS) Surface Analysis Chart for 1700 MST depicted a cold front that stretched from just south of the accident site southwest across northern Mexico and into the eastern Pacific Ocean. A stationary front stretched from just south of the accident site southeastward into northern and central Mexico. A surface low pressure center with a pressure of 1006-hectopascals (hPa) was located in southeastern Arizona just south of the accident site. Two other surface low pressure centers were located in central and eastern Arizona with pressures of 1008-hPa. The station models around the accident site depicted temperatures in the low 40's to upper 50's Fahrenheit (F), with temperature-dew point spreads of 15° F or more south and east of the accident site and temperature-dew point spreads of 5° F or less west of the accident site, a variable wind between 5 and 20 knots, mostly cloudy skies, and moderate rain west of the accident site. Areas near and ahead of fronts and surface low pressure centers are typically areas where enhanced lift, clouds, and precipitation can occur. The cloudy skies and rainy conditions would have been expected to move from west to east across Arizona with the mid- and upper-level wind pattern.

The area surrounding the accident site was documented utilizing official NWS Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs) and Specials (SPECIs). The following observations were taken from standard code and are provided in plain language. AA1OV-2 Benson, Arizona, observation site (AU445) was the closest weather station to the accident site located 3 miles east-southeast of the accident site, at an elevation of 4,250 feet, and its reports were not supplemented.

Benson weather at 1652 was reported as wind from 250° at 8 knots with gusts to 11 knots, temperature of 4° Celsius (C), dew point temperature of 2° C, a relative humidity of 88 percent, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury.

Benson weather at 1702 was reported as wind from 243° at 8 knots with gusts to 13 knots, temperature of 3° C, dew point temperature of 2° C, a relative humidity of 90 percent, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury.

Pioneer Airfield (KALK) was the closest official weather station to the accident site and had an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) whose reports were not supplemented. Pioneer was located 21 miles south of the accident site at an elevation of 4,767 feet. The following observations were taken and disseminated during the times surrounding the accident:

Pioneer weather at 1556 reported as wind from 220° at 21 knots with gusts to 31 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies below 12,000 feet above ground level (agl), temperature of 10° C, dew point temperature of -1° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. Remarks: automated station with a precipitation discriminator, peak wind from 230° at 33 knots at 1527, sea level pressure 1006.2 hPa, temperature 10.0° C, dew point temperature -1.1° C, lightning detection system with the sensor not operating.

Pioneer weather at 1656 reported as wind from 210° at 14 knots, 10 miles visibility, scattered clouds at 4,200 feet agl, a broken ceiling at 5,000 feet agl, temperature of 9° C, dew point temperature of 1° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. Remarks: automated station with a precipitation discriminator, peak wind from 220° at 31 knots at 1622 MST, sea level pressure 1006.9 hPa, temperature 8.9° C, dew point temperature 0.6° C, 6-hourly maximum temperature of 12.8° C, 6-hourly minimum temperature of 8.9° C, 3-hourly pressure increase of 0.5 hPa, lightning detection system with the sensor not operating.

Tucson International Airport (KTUS) is located 6 miles south of Tucson, Arizona, and had an automated surface observation system (ASOS) whose reports were supplemented by air traffic control. Tucson is located 29 miles west-northwest of the accident site, at an elevation of 2,643 feet, and had a 12° easterly magnetic variation. The following observations were taken and disseminated during the times surrounding the accident:

Tucson weather at 1648 reported as wind from 010° at 4 knots, 4 miles visibility, light rain, mist, broken ceiling at 600 feet agl, overcast skies at 1,100 feet agl, temperature of 6° C, dew point temperature of 4° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury. Remarks: automated station with a precipitation discriminator, one-hourly precipitation of 0.08 inches.

Tucson weather at 1653 reported as wind calm, 3 miles visibility, moderate rain, mist, a broken ceiling at 600 feet agl, overcast skies at 1,100 feet agl, temperature of 6° C, dew point temperature of 4° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.95 inches of mercury. Remarks: automated station with a precipitation discriminator, sea level pressure 1013.0 hPa, one-hourly precipitation of 0.08 inches, 6-hourly precipitation of 0.14 inches, temperature 6.1° C, dew point temperature 4.4° C, 6-hourly maximum temperature of 15.6° C, 6-hourly minimum temperature of 6.1° C, 3-hourly pressure increase of 0.5 hPa.

The observations from Benson indicated both ceilings less than 500 feet and visibility less than 1 mile (LIFR – Low IFR) were likely at the time of the accident near the accident site. Benson relative humidities rapidly increased to 79 percent by 1622 and the relative humidities increased above 90 percent by 1702 which would likely be indicative of cloud cover and mist at or near the surface or 4,250 feet msl. Tucson experienced similar conditions to Benson though conditions at Tucson were only IFR with the ceilings below 1,000 feet. Breezy to windy conditions were present ahead of the lowering visibility and ceiling conditions as seen in the Pioneer and Sierra Vista observations, with ceilings lowering at both of those locations as the rain moved eastward across southern Arizona after the accident time. The gusty winds ahead of the lowering ceilings and visibilities would have likely created low-level wind shear (LLWS).

Sierra Vista was the closest site with a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF). The 1206 Sierra Vista TAF expected wind from 300° at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots, 7 miles visibility, light rain, a broken ceiling at 2,000 feet agl, occasional light to moderate turbulence in clear air from the surface to 9,000 feet, light rime icing in cloud from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, and minimum altimeter setting of 29.92 inHg starting around 1600 and valid through 1900.

The Tucson TAF issued at 1513 was the valid TAF before the approximate 1540 to 1550 takeoff time. The 1513 Tucson TAF expected wind from 320° at 8 knots, greater than 6 miles visibility, light rain, scattered clouds at 600 feet agl, and an overcast ceiling at 1,500 feet agl. Temporary conditions between 1500 and 1900 of 5 miles visibility, light rain, mist, and a broken ceiling at 600 feet agl was forecast.

The National Weather Service Office in Tucson, Arizona, issued an Area Forecast Discussion (AFD) at 1423. The aviation section of the AFD mentioned IFR conditions developing due to lowering ceilings and precipitation from Tucson eastward starting around 1800. The aviation section of the AFD also mentioned the gusty southwest wind ahead of the front with gusts to 35 knots.

"MVFR (marginal VFR) WITH POSSIBLE IFR CONDITIONS DEVELOPING DUE TO LOWERING CEILINGS AND SHOWERS...FIRST AT KTUS/KOLS (Tucson/Nogales) TERMINALS AND THEN AT KDUG (Douglas) AROUND 01/01Z (Dec 31, 1800 MST), . THE HIGHER TERRAIN WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY DUE TO RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS. SOME PARTIAL CLEARING IS THEN EXPECTED FROM WEST TO EAST TOMORROW MORNING. WINDS AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL GENERALLY BE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 35 KTS WITH THE HIGHEST WIND SPEEDS IN AND AROUND THE KOLS/KDUG TERMINALS. WINDS WILL THEN SHIFT TO A MORE WESTERLY DIRECTION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN ELEVATED OVERNIGHT AT KDUG WHILE RELAXING TO 10 TO 15 KTS AT KTUS/KOLS AFTER 01/07Z."

The following weather information was available to the pilot prior to departing Glendale.

Surface Analysis Chart

A National Weather Service Surface Analysis Chart for 1400 indicated a low pressure center west of Phoenix, with a cold front depicted between Phoenix and Sierra Vista. The surface frontal boundary favored cloud and precipitation development.

NWS Meteorological Aerodrome Reports (METARs)

Tucson International Airport (KTUS) located along the route of flight about 60 miles northwest of the destination, at 1511 the airport reported wind from 340° at 7 knots, 6 statute miles visibility, light rain and mist, clouds were few at 400 feet, and overcast at 900 feet, temperature was 9°C, and dew point 5°C.

Pioneer Field (KALK) located 5 miles west of the destination airport reported at 1456 wind from 230° at 24 knots gusting to 30 knots, 10 statute miles visibility with a clear sky, temperature 12°C and dew point of -2°C.

The destination airport, Sierra Vista Municipal Airport (KFHU), reported at 1455 wind from 200° at 29 knots gusting to 35 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clouds were few at 3,600 feet, broken at 20,000 feet, overcast at 33,000 feet, temperature was 13°C, and dew point was -4°C

Terminal Area Forecasts (TAF)

The 1206 Sierra Vista (KFHU) TAF for the time period between 1600-1900 expected wind from 300° at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots, 7 miles visibility, light rain, a broken ceiling at 2,000 feet agl, occasional light to moderate turbulence in clear air from the surface to 9,000 feet, light rime icing in clouds from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, and minimum altimeter setting of 29.92 inHg.

The 1513 Tucson (KTUS) TAF for the time period starting at 1500 expected wind from 320° at 8 knots, greater than 6 miles visibility, light rain, scattered clouds at 600 feet agl, and an overcast ceiling at 1,500 feet agl. Temporary conditions between 1500 and 1900 MST of 5 miles visibility, light rain, mist, and a broken ceiling at 600 feet agl was forecast.

AIRMET Sierra, Tango, Zulu

AIRMETs Sierra, Tango, & Zulu were issued at 1345, and valid at the accident time for the

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in an inflight collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, during which he failed to identify forecasted deteriorating weather conditions along the route of flight.