Cites Department Policies As Contributing To The Fatal Crash

In its probable cause report, the NTSB cites a New Mexico State Police pilot's decision making as the primary cause for an accident which fatally injured two and seriously hurt one. But the board also has harsh words for the culture of the police department which it says stressed mission execution over safety. The sure thing is this rescue flight did not have a favorable outcome.

NTSB Identification: CEN09PA348
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 09, 2009 in Santa Fe, NM
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/02/2011
Aircraft: AGUSTA SPA A109E, registration: N606SP
Injuries: 2 Fatal,1 Serious.

On June 9, 2009, about 2135 mountain daylight time, an Agusta S.p.A. A-109E helicopter, N606SP, impacted terrain following visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; a highway patrol officer who was acting as a spotter during the accident flight was seriously injured. The entire aircraft was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety and operated by the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) on a public search and rescue mission under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The helicopter departed its home base at Santa Fe Municipal Airport, Santa Fe, New Mexico, about 1850 in visual meteorological conditions; instrument meteorological conditions prevailed when the helicopter departed the remote landing site about 2132.

File Photo

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's decision to take off from a remote, mountainous landing site in dark (moonless) night, windy, instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident were an organizational culture that prioritized mission execution over aviation safety and the pilot's fatigue, self-imposed pressure to conduct the flight, and situational stress. Also contributing to the accident were deficiencies in the NMSP aviation section's safety-related policies, including lack of a requirement for a risk assessment at any point during the mission; inadequate pilot staffing; lack of an effective fatigue management program for pilots; and inadequate procedures and equipment to ensure effective communication between airborne and ground personnel during search and rescue missions.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov