National Transportation Safety Board
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report
Location:

Zaleski, OH

Accident Number:

CEN19FA072

Date & Time:

01/29/2019, 0650 EST

Registration:

N191SF

Aircraft:

Bell 407

Injuries:

3 Fatal

Flight Conducted Under:

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter - Non-scheduled - Air Medical (Medical Emergency)

On January 29, 2019, at 0650 Eastern standard time, a single-engine, turbine-powered, Bell
407 helicopter, N191SF, collided with forested, rising terrain about 4 miles northeast of Zaleski,
Ohio. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Viking Aviation, LLC, doing business as
Survival Flight, Inc., as a visual flight rules helicopter air ambulance flight under the provisions
of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 when the accident occurred. The certificated
commercial pilot, flight nurse, and flight paramedic were fatally injured, and the helicopter was
destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the departure location, and company
flight following procedures were in effect. The flight departed Mt. Carmel Hospital, Grove City,
Ohio at 0628, destined for Holzer Meigs Hospital, Pomeroy, Ohio, about 69 miles southeast.
According to the Survival Flight Operations Control Specialist (OCS) on duty at the time of the
accident, the night shift pilot had originally accepted the flight. The OCS said that, while he was
on the phone with that pilot reviewing flight details about 0612, he was told that, due to the
upcoming shift change, the day pilot would be taking the flight.
The OCS said that, while watching the helicopter on flight tracking software in the Operations
Control Center, he observed that, about 15 minutes after departure, the helicopter made a turn
to the right, then "a sharp left turn," which was immediately followed by a "no-tracking alarm."
The emergency action plan was then initiated.
The helicopter wreckage was located on a tree-covered hill and exhibited significant
fragmentation. The wreckage and debris path extended about 600 ft downslope on a heading
of about 345° magnetic. A portion of the front-left skid tube was found at the start of the
wreckage path, followed by the main rotor hub and blades, tail boom and tail rotor, cockpit and
cabin, and the engine and transmission deck. Tree branches broken about 30 ft above ground
level were observed near the front-left skid tube. Additionally, one main rotor blade had
separated from the main rotor hub and was embedded in a tree. The elevation of the wreckage
area ranged from 850 to 980 ft above mean sea level (msl). There was no evidence of a
postcrash fire, but a strong smell of fuel was reported by first responders when the wreckage
was first discovered.

Page 1 of 3

CEN19FA072

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.

 The helicopter was equipped with an Outerlink Global Solutions IRIS flight data monitoring
system, which provides real-time flight tracking data. The flight tracking information is relayed
via satellites to an internet-based storage location in 10-second intervals. According to the IRIS
data, the helicopter's last known location was about 4 miles northeast of Zaleski at an altitude
of 1,528 ft msl, traveling at 132 knots across the ground, on a course of 072°. In addition to the
transmission of data at 10-second intervals, the IRIS stores flight data in 1-second intervals,
along with voice and satellite communications. The equipment was removed and sent to the
NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for voice and data extraction.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make:

Bell

Registration:

N191SF

Model/Series:

407 No Series

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Amateur Built:

No

Operator:

VIKING AVIATION INC

Operating Certificate(s)
Held:

On-demand Air Taxi (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:

Unknown

Condition of Light:

Night

Observation Facility, Elevation:

KUNI, 765 ft msl

Observation Time:

1155 UTC

Distance from Accident Site:

7 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point:

-6°C / -10°C

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction:

7 knots / , 280°

Lowest Cloud Condition:
Lowest Ceiling:

Overcast / 2700 ft agl

Visibility:

10 Miles

Altimeter Setting:

29.92 inches Hg

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

Company VFR

Departure Point:

Grove City, OH

Destination:

Pomeroy, OH

Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries:

3 Fatal

Aircraft Damage:

Destroyed

Passenger Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Fire:

None

Ground Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

3 Fatal

Latitude, Longitude:

39.323333, -82.309444

Page 2 of 3

CEN19FA072

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.

 Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):

David S Williams

Additional Participating Persons:

David Gerlach; FAA; Washington, DC
Todd Gentry; FAA; Washingon, DC
Jack Johnson; Rolls Royce Engines; Indianapolis, IN
Gary Mercer; Viking Aviation LLC; Little Rock, AR

Note:

Page 3 of 3

The NTSB traveled to the scene of this accident.

CEN19FA072

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.