What happened
The helicopter was engaged in an emergency medical service operation. At 0230, the pilot obtained a partial weather briefing and was advised of flight precautions for instrument flight rules weather throughout the area, including low ceilings, fog, precipitation, and obscured mountains. The flight departed Nashville at 0245 and landed at Jamestown at 0333. About 17 minutes later, it took off on the return flight to Nashville with two medical personnel and a patient aboard. About 3.2 miles from the departure point, the aircraft hit trees moments after crossing high terrain along the rim of a valley. The impact area was void of lights.
The investigation
A weather study indicated cloud bases at about 800 feet above ground level, with visibility less than 3 miles in drizzle and fog. Personnel in the area estimated 200 to 300 feet overcast, with visibility between one-half and three-quarters of a mile. No preimpact part failure or malfunction was found.
Findings
The emergency medical service operation was certified under 14 CFR Part 135, which has no specific regulations for EMS operations. The company operations manual lacked guidance concerning EMS operations. The operator did not have an FAA approved training manual. No FAA record was found showing a base inspection by either operations or maintenance inspectors between January 11, 1985, and the date of the accident.