History of the Flight
On 30 December 2013, a Bell 206 helicopter registered PK-DAL was operated by PT. Derazona Air Service on a spot charter flight. The flight was intended to travel from Efarina Etaham Hospital in Berastagi to the Simalungun area, North Sumatra. The helicopter carried one pilot, one engineer on board (EOB), and three hospital employees as passengers. This was the second flight of the day; the first flight had transported only the pilot and engineer from Simalungun to Berastagi.
At 0330 UTC (1030 WIB), the helicopter started its engines and departed from the heliport at Efarina Etaham Hospital. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter rotate three or four times before moving forward toward Simalungun. A few seconds after departure, the helicopter struck a 7-meter-high electrical pole located in front of the hospital yard. At 0335 UTC, the hospital team rescued and evacuated all occupants from the wreckage. The engineer on board was found to have suffered fatal injuries, while the other four occupants sustained serious injuries and were treated at Efarina Etaham Hospital.
Injuries and Damage
The table of injuries shows one fatality (the engineer), one serious injury to a flight crew member (the pilot), and three serious injuries to passengers. No minor or uninjured occupants were reported. The helicopter was destroyed in the accident. Additionally, the electrical pole was broken, causing a power outage in the Kabanjahe District for approximately 30 minutes.
Personnel Information
The pilot in command was a 35-year-old Indonesian male who joined the company on 1 August 2013. He held a Commercial Pilot License (Helicopter) issued on 24 April 2013, with type ratings for Bell 206B and Bolkow BO 105. His first-class medical certificate was issued on 22 October 2013 and valid until 22 April 2014, with no limitations. His last proficiency check was on 17 December 2013. He had accumulated 1,789 total flight hours, including 21 hours and 15 minutes on the Bell 206 model. In the last 90 days, he flew 17 hours and 1 minute; in the last 60 days, 13 hours and 4 minutes; and in the last 24 hours, 1 hour.
The engineer on board was a 38-year-old Indonesian male who joined the company on 1 September 1997. He held an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) license with type ratings for Bell 206B and Allison 250-C20.
Helicopter Information
The helicopter involved was a Bell 406 model (the source consistently refers to Bell 406 in the title but Bell 206 in the text; the preliminary report's header mentions Bell 406, while the text and figure captions refer to Bell 206. Based on the registration PK-DAL and the source's factual information, the helicopter is described as a Bell 206 in the body of the report.) It was operated by PT. Derazona Air Service.
Meteorological Information
The source includes meteorological observations from BMKG Kualanamu Medan Office, satellite images, and eyewitness accounts, but no specific weather conditions at the time of the accident are stated in the factual sections beyond the presence of satellite imagery. The report does not provide a characterization of weather.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was located near the heliport at Efarina Etaham Hospital. The helicopter first impacted an electrical pole before coming to rest. The wreckage was destroyed, and the emergency locator transmitter was found with its antenna detached.
This preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) contains factual information only; no analysis or probable cause has been determined at this stage.