FORNEY, TX, USA
N5046F
HILLER FH-1100
THE PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM HIS RANCH NEAR EDOM EN ROUTE TO THE REDBIRD AIRPORT IN DALLAS WHERE THE HELICOPTER WAS NORMALLY HANGARED. THE PILOT HAD BEEN WORKING AT HIS RANCH WITH THE FOREMAN, AND THEY HAD CONSUMED ALCOHOL DURING THE DAY WHILE THEY WERE WORKING. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE HELICOPTER FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE. THE HELICOPTER WAS ALSO SEEN DESCENDING INTO OPEN FIELDS AND BEHIND TREE LINES, AND WAS SEEN SECONDS LATER CLIMBING TO ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN APRX 60 DEG LEFT BANK. THE PILOT AND HIS DOG WERE JETTISONED FROM THE HELICOPTER DURING IMPACT. THE PILOT WAS FOUND CLUTCHING A CELLULAR PHONE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. THE PILOT'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 248 MG/DL.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AS A RESULT OF HIS PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DARK NIGHT AND THE PILOT'S LIKELY DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION FROM OPERATING THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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