AIN Staff

Following a 17-month investigation into the July 23, 2013, crash in Noxen, Pa., of a Part-91-operated Robinson R66, the NTSB announced the cause of the accident to be the pilot's decision to continue VFR flight into night instrument meteorological conditions. The pilot’s decision to continue flying in poor weather resulted in spatial disorientation and his eventual loss of control. The accident claimed the lives of all five people aboard the aircraft. Although the helicopter was initially operating in VFR conditions at approximately 3,000 feet MSL, it encountered light rain about 30 minutes into the flight, while crossing over a sparsely populated area. The heavily wooded region offered few ground reference lights. Shortly after turning around, the pilot asked ATC for a vector to the nearest airport. The helicopter initially headed toward an airport eight miles away following those ATC instructions, but based on comments from the pilot and then changes in altitude and heading investigators found the pattern to be consistent with spatial disorientation. Although there was no record of a pre-flight weather briefing, a text from a student pilot aboard the helicopter prior to takeoff indicated they were aware of the deteriorating weather.

 


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