Icing affected medical helicopter crash
MASON CITY (AP) – A helicopter that crashed in northern Iowa, killing three people, was not equipped to fly in the wintery weather conditions at the time of the accident, a federal report found.
The report released by the National Transportation Safety Board focused on weather conditions at the time of the January 2013 crash near Ventura. The report said witnesses and first responders found mist, drizzle, freezing precipitation and icy roads.
The report said the helicopter was not certified for intentional flight into known icing conditions. It had heated ports, but the rotor blades were not equipped with ice protection.