Accident · 2008-08-31
What the record says
- Event date
- 2008-08-31
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- Fatal injury
- Aircraft
- BELL 206L-1 (N37AE)
- Operating rule
- Part 91
- Operator
- Air Evac EMS, Inc. Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- Air Evac EMS Inc.
Probable cause
The in-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to a fatigue failure of the blade spar, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable, and the manufacturer's production of main rotor blades with latent manufacturing defects, which precipitated the fatigue failure of the blade spar.
Source: NTSB case CHI08FA269Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot | Commercial | Airplane / Helicopter | 43 | Class 2 (2008-04-22) | 5,493 total · 1,915 in this make/model · 5,467 as PIC · 38 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.