Alabama Helicopter Crash Kills Pilot

Hughes 369A Helicopter Crashes in National Forest

On May 13, 2007 a Hughes 369A, N468WE, registered to and operated by an individual, impacted into the Bankhead National Forest near Moulton, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The commercial-rated pilot received fatal injuries and the helicopter was destroyed. The flight originated from the Merkel Field Sylacauga Municipal Airport, Sylacauga, Alabama, earlier that day, about 1645.

Information obtained from family members and local authorities revealed the pilot just purchased the helicopter from a private individual through a broker in Lakeland, Florida. The pilot was flying the helicopter back to Kansas, where he resided. On May 13, about 1645, he departed from Sylacauga, from one of his planned fuel stops. His route of flight took him over the area of Moulton, which at that time he canceled the flight plan through the Birmingham Air Traffic Control facility and continued on visual flight rules. Moments later the helicopter was lost from Air Traffic Control radar. The last radar hit was at 1729, with the coordinates of latitude north 34: 20: 43 and longitude west 87: 16: 13. No distress calls were received prior to the loss of radar contact.

On May 15 at 1130 CDT, the helicopter wreckage was located in the Bankhead National Forest by the local authorities, which were searching for the helicopter after it was lost from radar. The search efforts were hindered due to the fires in the forest, believed to be as a result from the helicopter crash. The main wreckage was located in the bottom of a crater, with the coordinates of latitude north 34: 19: 23 and longitude west 87: 15: 17. The damage to the surrounding trees indicated the helicopter descended in a near vertical, with minimal forward, direction on a heading of 350 degrees before impacting the ground and the base of a large tree. Key flight components, which separated from the helicopter, were located near the vicinity of the main wreckage; along the route of flight. Those components have been retained by NTSB for metallurgical examination.

NTSB Investigation has not been concluded at the time of this entry.