NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On October 15, 2008, at 2358 central daylight time, a Bell 222 helicopter, N992AA, operated by Air Angels Inc., and piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a radio station tower and the ground in Aurora, Illinois. The tower stood 734 feet above ground level. A post crash fire ensued. The emergency medical services (EMS) transport flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, and was en route from the Valley West Hospital Heliport (0LL7), Sandwich, Illinois, to the Children’s Memorial Hospital Heliport (40IS), Chicago, Illinois, when the accident occurred. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident site. All four occupants, including the pilot, a flight paramedic, a flight nurse, and the 14 month old patient, were fatally injured. The flight originated about 10 minutes prior to the accident.

Reach dispatch (Air Angels flights were dispatched by Reach Air Medical Services in Santa Rosa, California) was notified of the need for EMS transport at 2112 and opened a case record at that time. At 2113, the flight was accepted by Air Angels; however, the flight did not depart the Air Angels base in Bolingbrook, Illinois until 2254. The flight had been delayed until a receiving hospital could be identified. At 2311, N992AA arrived at 0LL7. At 2338, the pilot made a flight following call to Reach dispatch as required in Reach/Air Angels protocol. The flight following call included the helicopter's takeoff weight of 7,635 pounds, the helicopter's center of gravity of 251.7 inches, center of gravity range of 247.65 to 256.0 inches, the planned initial heading of 080 degrees, distance of 38 miles, estimated time en route of 18 minutes, 4 people on board, 1.5 hours of fuel on board, and Children's Memorial Hospital as the destination. The flight following call was made prior to takeoff from 0LL7.

At 2355, the pilot checked in with the DuPage Airport (DPA) air traffic control tower (ATCT) and reported his position as "over Aurora," and that the helicopter was at 1,400 feet above mean sea level (msl). Radar data showed that at the time of the radio call to DPA ATCT, the helicopter was about 12 nautical miles (nm) northeast of the departure heliport. Radar data showed that the helicopter continued on a 072-degree magnetic course. The radar data showed the helicopter on a steady course at a constant altitude of 1,300 feet MSL. The radar track ended at 2358:25 and the location of the last radar return coincided with the location of a radio station antenna tower.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot, age 69, held a commercial pilot certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter and instrument helicopter ratings. The certificate also listed private pilot privileges for single-engine land airplanes. The pilot's most recent second class medical certificate was issued in January 2008 and stated that the pilot must wear corrective lenses for near and distant vision.

The pilot was hired by Air Angels in July 2006. A review of the pilot's Air Angels training records indicated that he had accumulated 3,564.7 flight hours total time, including 3,182.7 hours in helicopters and 382 hours in fixed wing aircraft. While employed by Air Angels he had accumulated 282.7 hours in the Bell 222, including approximately 50 hours and 23 hours in the preceding 90 and 30 days respectively. During the month of October the pilot had flown 5.7 hours at night and made 20 night landings in Bell 222 helicopters.

Training records showed that the pilot completed new hire and initial training in July 2006 and his most recent recurrent training was accomplished in August 2008. The pilot's most recent annual line check (FAR Part 135.299) was completed on September 25, 2008.

The pilot resided in Carmel, Indiana, approximately 200 miles southeast of the Air Angels base of operations. Due to this, the pilot would not commute to his home during his duty week and would stay in a bunk room located at the Air Angels facility. On the night of the accident, the pilot was one day into his second week of night shift work. The pilot did not fly on the night before the accident and his most recent flight was on October 13, 2008, with 54 minutes of flight time. A review of the pilot's activities during the 72 hours prior to the accident revealed that he maintained his normal routine and stayed in the bunk room at Air Angels during the day. According to other employees at Air Angels, the pilot appeared well rested and his demeanor seemed normal when he reported for his shift on the accident date.

The Air Angels Director of Flight Operations (DFO) reported that the accident pilot was a very experienced helicopter pilot having flown helicopters during the Vietnam War. The DFO reported that the pilot looked forward to flying each day, was conscientious, and flew landing approaches in a slow meticulous manner. The DFO reported that during the pilot's most recent line check, they received a call for a patient transport and the pilot performed the flight in accordance with the company’s general operating manual. He observed that the pilot did use the helicopter's autopilot function during the en route phase of the flight.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The helicopter was a Bell 222, serial number 47062. It was configured for medical transport of a single patient on a gurney. Air Angels acquired the helicopter in February 1999. The crew consisted of a single pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic. A review of the helicopter's maintenance records revealed that it had 5,302.6 hours total time as of October 14, 2008. The helicopter had two Honeywell (Lycoming) LTS-101-650C engines. The number 1 engine had 5,694.0 hours total time, and the number 2 engine had 3,717.1 hours total time. The most recent phase inspection was performed on September 24, 2008, at 5,270.9 hours total airframe time.

During the flight-following radio call to Reach Dispatch, the pilot reported the weight of the helicopter as 7,635 pounds, the center of gravity (CG) at 251.7 inches and a CG range of 247.65 to 256.0 inches. The Bell 222 Flight Manual, limitations section listed the maximum gross weight for takeoff and landing as 7,850 pounds. Referring to the Bell 222 Flight Manual gross weight center of gravity chart, the CG that the pilot reported was within the normal operating limits as defined by that chart.

The helicopter was equipped with a Garmin GNS 430, which has a combined GPS, navigation, and communications radio that was mounted into the instrument panel. The maintenance records included a FAA form 337 (Major Repair and Alteration) that documented the GNS 430 installation on April 8, 1999. According to the entry, a placard reading "GPS not approved for IFR operation" had been placed on the instrument panel. The GNS 430 software was updated on January 9, 2008. The DFO and Director of Maintenance (DM) stated that the GNS 430 was configured with the Jeppesen aviation database, last updated on June 1, 2008. Although the GNS 430 could display terrain and obstacles, the software for that function had never been installed. The DFO stated that the GNS 430 was their primary source of navigation information.

The helicopter was equipped with four communication radios, which were normally set to the following: local air traffic control (ATC) frequency, dispatch, and 123.025 (helicopter air-to-air common). The medical crewmembers had a Technisonic radio in the cabin that they would use to communicate with the hospital.

COMPANY INFORMATION

Air Angels Inc was a commercial on demand air taxi operator. The company was established in 1998 and operated out of Clow International Airport, Bolingbrook, Illinois. Air Angels received its FAR Part 135 Operating Certificate, number X34A833I, on March 11, 1999. The company provided air and ground critical care transportation throughout Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

At the time of the accident Air Angels operated two Bell 222 helicopters and had recently purchased an additional Bell 222 that was being outfitted for medical transport. In June 2007, Reach Medical Holdings, Inc. acquired Air Angels. Reach was a California based company that operates numerous medical transport companies throughout the United States. Air Angels employed 3 pilots, 3 full time mechanics, 1 part time mechanic, and 10 to 12 full time medical personnel. The company's Chief Pilot had just left the company one week prior to the accident to pursue different employment. The Director of Air Operations took on the responsibilities of the Chief Pilot until they could find a replacement.

Air Angels operated in accordance with FAA approved Operations Specifications (Ops Spec) for Part 135 operations under certificate number X34A833I. The latest Ops Spec revision was dated August 8, 2008. Contained in the Ops Spec was authorization for visual flight rules (VFR) day and night operations with nine or less passengers. Conducting flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) was not authorized when exercising their Part 135 certificate.

Air Angels utilized an approved training program as required by 14 CFR Part 135.341. The training manual contained sections addressing new hire training, initial aircraft training, recurrent training, requalification training, transition training, and upgrade training. Within each of these training categories, subject matter regarding ground training, emergency training, flight training, differences training, testing and checking were outlined. Additionally an appendix contained maneuver diagrams, check airman and instructor training, a list of company instructors, and company training forms. The FAA approved the training manual on October 5, 2001, and the latest revision was dated August 1, 2008.

The DFO managed and exercised operational control over Air Angels aviation operations and was responsible for crew scheduling. The DFO started working for Air Angels early in 2004. He became the Chief Pilot in June 2004, and then became the DFO in July 2006. He was a former Army aviator and the majority of his 6,900 flight hours were in helicopters. He held an airline transport pilot certificate (ATP) and was the company's check airman. The pilots were normally scheduled for one week on (7 days), one week off (7 days) schedule, with a crew day consisting of a 12-hour shift, from 0700 to 1900, and 1900 to 0700. The duty schedule consisted of alternating a week of day shift, followed by a week of night shift. When the Chief Pilot left the company the number of company pilots was reduced from four to three. To cover the schedule with three pilots, the DFO requested the other two pilots perform an extra week of duty until another pilot could be hired, effectively extending one of their duty periods from 7 days to 14 days. The accident pilot volunteered to extend his week on the night schedule an additional week.

Air Angel flights were dispatched from the Reach Air Medical Services office in Santa Rosa, California. The dispatch office received requests for medical transport and helped coordinate with the sending and receiving facilities. Reach dispatch kept a detailed log of all coordinating activities and aircraft status. Once a receiving facility was identified dispatch would contact the duty pilot via a dedicated cell phone and brief him regarding the sending and receiving facility details. The duty pilot would check the weather along the route of flight and report back to dispatch accepting or rejecting the flight based on weather. A formal risk assessment was not an action required to be performed by the pilot. Once the flight had been accepted, dispatch then briefed the medical crew about the condition of the patient being transported. Once airborne, the pilot communicated with dispatch utilizing a dedicated radio in the helicopter that transmitted to a repeater, which then routed the communications through a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) connection to Santa Rosa. While en route to the sending facility, the paramedic usually sat in the right hand seat and assisted the pilot with radios and visual lookout. While transporting the patient, both the flight nurse and paramedic were in the cabin with the patient.

Before takeoff, the pilot was required to check in with dispatch. The call included the following information; total take-off weight, helicopter center of gravity (CG) and CG range, destination, estimated time en route (ETE), souls on board, and fuel (time). Every 15 minutes the pilot was required to send dispatch a position report. The position report included the following information; latitude, longitude, estimated time of arrival (ETA), ground speed, and heading.

The chief pilot said that he had never experienced a problem communicating with dispatch using this system. The en route segment of the flight was usually flown around 1,500 feet mean sea level (msl) during the day and 1,500-1,700 feet msl at night; 1,800 feet msl would usually provide 1,000 feet agl for the local area. Airspeed was normally between 125 and 130 knots, 90% engine torque.

COMMUNICATIONS

At 2338:25, the pilot contacted Reach dispatch for his pre-takeoff flight following call. The call included the following information: Initial heading 080 degrees; distance 38 miles; estimated time en route 18 minutes; destination-Children's Memorial Hospital; 4 people onboard; 1.5 hours fuel onboard.

The helicopter was being operated in night visual flight rules (VFR) conditions and was outside of the DuPage Airport (DPA) class D airspace. However, at 2355:21, the pilot, identifying the flight as Lifeguard Angel 1, contacted DPA ATCT. The controller acknowledged the transmission. At 2355:28, the pilot stated, "Ah sir we are just over Aurora en route to Children's Hospital ah downtown Chicago at about 1,400 feet." At 2355:36, the controller responded, "Lifeguard Angel 1 cleared through the delta current altimeter 3014." The pilot acknowledged the altimeter setting at 2355:42. At 2358:26, an unidentified transmission similar to "ahhhhhhhh" was heard on the frequency. There were no further contacts with the aircraft.

The tower radar display at DPA shows information from the Chicago ASR-9 radar. Radar data from the Chicago ASR-9 radar was obtained for the approximate accident time. Examination of the data revealed an aircraft using the VFR transponder beacon code, 1200, whose track corresponded to a direct flight route from 0LL7 to 40IS. The first return was recorded at 2353:48. The aircraft's position was about 8 nautical miles and 063 degrees from 0LL7, and its altitude was 1,400 feet msl. The radar data showed that the aircraft proceeded from this location in a straight line for about 10 nautical miles before radar contact was lost. The final return was recorded at 2358:25. During the recorded portion of the flight, the aircraft's altitude remained consistent at 1,300 to 1,400 feet. The recorded track was just north and parallel to a direct route from 0LL7 to 40IS. The location of the radio station tower was in line with the flight path depicted by the recorded radar track.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Order 7110.65, "Air Traffic Control," provides direction to controllers on duty priority and actions to take in response to potential hazards affecting aircraft. Paragraph 2-1-2, "Duty Priority," states in part:

a. Give first priority to separating aircraft and issuing safety alerts as required in this order. Good judgment shall be used in prioritizing all other provisions of this order based on the requirements of the situation at hand.

REFERENCE

FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-6, Safety Alert.

NOTE-

Because there are many variables involved, it is virtually impossible to develop a standard list of duty priorities that would apply uniformly to every conceivable situation. Each set of circumstances must be evaluated on its own merit, and when more than one action is required, controllers shall exercise their best judgment based on the facts and circumstances known to them. That action which is most critical from a safety standpoint is performed first.

Paragraph 2-1-6, "Safety Alert," states in regard to terrain and obstruction hazards:

Issue a safety alert to an aircraft if you are aware the aircra

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the 734-foot-tall lighted tower during the visual night flight due to inadequate preflight planning, insufficient altitude, and a flight route too low to clear the tower. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to issue a safety alert as required by Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65, “Air Traffic Control.”

Vice Chairman Hart did not approve this probable cause and filed a dissenting statement. The statement can be found in the public docket for this accident.