Aerospatiale AS355F1 accident near Madison, Florida, June 11, 2003
On June 11, 2003 at about 5:29 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F1 (helicopter), registered N217ES, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Florida. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot in command's diverted attention and loss of control while attempting to takeoff, which resulted in the main rotor blades being dragged, and the helicopter rolling over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2003 · about 5:29 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS355F1 · all AS355F1s on the register
- Registration
- N217ES · no longer on the register · serial 5059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after the patient had been loaded on the helicopter, and the other crewmembers had secured themselves inside, he picked the helicopter up into a 3-foot hover, glanced at the gauges, and then looked up again and the helicopter rolled hard to the right with the blades impacting the ground. He said the main rotor blades struck the ground the helicopter rotated 90 degrees to the left, and came to rest on its right side. A flight crew member in the back of the helicopter said that after they had all been secured for takeoff, she looked out through the right window and advised "all clear." She further stated that the helicopter then lifted off, and immediately started falling, with the rotor blades impacting the ground, which caused it to fall. A witness stated that he observed the helicopter lift off the ground, perform a quarter turn to the left, facing north, and hover for a few seconds, before starting to roll to the right side, which immediately caused the main rotors to strike the ground, and the helicopter crashed on its right side. Examination of the helicopter and its systems did not reveal the existence of any preaccident anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 1,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,321.5 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 3, 2003; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,291 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: C J Systems Aviation Group
The flight
- Departed from: Madison FL at 5:29 pm
- Destination: Perry FL
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from TLH, 50 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | 1 | ||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.