Crash After Encounter with Instrument Meteorological Conditions During Takeoff from Remote Landing Site Near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Crash after Encounter with Instrument Meteorological Conditions

During Takeoff from Remote Landing Site near Santa Fe, New Mexico

NTSB Accident Report NTSB/AAR-11/04, PB2011-910404

Albert Sandoval

SFTY 320

Professor Michael Whitefoot

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

Piloting aircraft can be a dangerous task. Even the most seasoned pilots are prone to mistakes that prove to be catastrophic at times. Those in the safety community are continuously seeking ways to minimize or prevent accidents from happening. Unfortunately, many lessons learned come from an after-the-fact crash. The next step? How did it happen and what potential human errors were the cause? This study will examine a crash that occurred June 9, 2009 involving a Department of Public Safety helicopter performing a search and rescue (SAR) mission. The aircraft accident report, NTSB/AAR-11/04, gives the full details of the accident. An analysis utilizing the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) will study potential causes of the incident. Finally, a discussion of possible solutions that may have prevented this occurrence from happening will be explored.

Introduction – The Crash

The following excerpt comes directly from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) aircraft accident report NTSB AAR/11-04:

On June 9, 2009 at about 9:35pm Mountain Daylight Time, an Agusta S.p.A. A-109E helicopter, N606SP, crashed into the terrain following visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; a highway patrol officer who acted as a spotter during the flight was seriously injured. The aircraft was extensively damaged. The helicopter was registered to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, operated by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) on a public search and rescue (SAR) mission (NTSB, 2011).

Emergency missions are hardly routine, but as it will be...