ATL87MA035

Factual narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED IN AN EMERG MED SVC/MED-EVAC (EMS) OPN. AT 0230, THE PLT OBTAINED A PARTIAL WX BRIEFING. HE WAS ADVISED OF FLT PRCTNS FOR IFR WX THRU-OUT THE AREA WITH LOW CEILINGS, FOG, PRECIP & MTNS OBSCD. THE FLT DEPARTED NASHVILLE AT 0245 & LNDD AT JAMESTOWN AT 0333. ABOUT 17 MIN LATER, IT TOOK OFF ON THE RETURN FLT TO NASHVILLE WITH 2 MEDPSNL & A PATIENT ABOARD. ABOUT 3.2 MI FM THE DEPARTURE POINT, THE ACFT HIT TREES MOMENTS AFTER CROSSING HI TERRAIN ALONGTHE RIM OF A VALLEY. THE IMPACT AREA WAS VOID OF LGTS. A WX STUDY INDCD CLD BASES AT ABOUT 800' AGL, VIS LESS THAN 3 MI IN DRIZZLE & FOG. PSNL IN THE AREA ESTD 200' TO 300' OVERCAST, VIS 1/2 TO 3/4 MI. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. THE EMS OPN WAS CERTIFIED UNDER 14 CFR 135 (NO SPECIFIC REG FOR EMS OPNS). THE COMPANY OPNS MANUAL LACKED GUID-ANCE CONCERNING EMS OPNS. THE OPERATOR DID NOT HAVE AN FAA APPROVED TRAINING MANUAL. NO FAA RECORD WAS FND SHOWING A BASE INSPECTION BY EITHER OPNS OR MAINT INSPECTORS BTN 1/11/85 & THE DATE OF THE ACDNT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12