N781SA

On May 15, 1999, at 2122 central daylight time, a Bell 222UT, N781SA, operated by Air Methods Corporation, sustained substantial damage during landing in a field 3 miles west of Rockton, Illinois. The Emergency Medical Service positioning flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There were no injuries reported by the airline transport pilot or the other two crew members. The flight originated from Saint Anthony's Medical Center, Rockford, Illinois, at 2111.

Post accident inspection of the aircraft showed damage to the nose cowl, landing skids, and tail boom. The tail rotor assembly contacted the ground and was separated from the aircraft. The tail boom skins and substructure were damaged during the impact. No preexisting anomalies were found and the pilot reported none.

The pilot/operator report states that the "pilot oriented his approach angle off the bright lights from the emergency vehicles and a ground guide with two light wands. The hard landing occurred at 2122."