What happened
On July 29, 2022, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter, operating under Part 135 air medical services, was performing a flight from Evergreen, Alabama, to Andalusia Health Hospital. The mission was to pick up a patient for transfer to another facility.
As the aircraft approached the hospital helipad, the flight paramedic observed the helicopter descending too low. The flight nurse, seated behind the pilot, alerted the pilot to the low altitude. According to the paramedic, the pilot initially leveled the aircraft, but the nose then pitched down into a further descent. The nurse then issued a mayday call and repeatedly instructed the pilot to pull up. The helicopter subsequently nosed up and performed a left turn before impacting a field on its right side. The accident resulted in 2 serious injuries and 1 minor injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of N124LN and found the aircraft had impacted trees and powerlines. The debris path measured approximately 100 feet. While the main rotor blades remained attached to their hinges, the star arms were fractured, and the tail section had separated in two places. The right horizontal stabilizer showed damage consistent with a wire strike.
Mechanical examination of the flight controls, engine, and transmission revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or failure. The cockpit video recorder was recovered, but no data from the flight was stored on the device.
Medical and toxicological examinations of the pilot were conducted. Testing revealed ethanol in the pilot's blood and urine. Additionally, the presence of benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene in the pilot's urine indicated recent cocaine use. The pilot also had a known history of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that had not been reported to the FAA.