Aerospatiale AS350B N909WA
10 November 2002 · Kingman, Arizona, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 10 November 2002 at about 18:40 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N909WA was involved in an accident near Kingman, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kingman, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Kingman (IGM)
- Coordinates
- 35.3278, -113.8833
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Registration
- N909WA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Business
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kingman → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX03LA027
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain adequate clearance from transmission wires while performing low altitude operations.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The helicopter collided with a transmission line while performing a low altitude maneuver and impacted the terrain. The purpose of the flight was to film an in-motion motor home for a television series. During the filming, the pilot manipulated the helicopter into an out-of-ground-effect hover and then input a 30-degree crab angle, which gave the best filming angle for the camera. About 60 to 75 feet above ground level (agl), as the motor home became abeam the helicopter, the pilot initiated forward flight and caught glimpse of a cable directly in the flight path. The pilot initiated rapid deceleration, but the helicopter impacted the cables and plummeted toward the terrain below. After egressing the helicopter, the pilot noted that a 100 to 125 meter cable was strung from the west side of the highway over to a location east of the helicopter's flight path. The operator reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 2000 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Van Nuys, California, United States | Helinet Corporation | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 Nov 2005 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Homestead, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Oct 2005 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Feb 1999 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Grand Canyon Pk, Arizona, United States | Silverado Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 30 Oct 1997 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Frankfort, Illinois, United States | Illinios State Police | Fatal | 2 |
| 9 Dec 1996 | Aerospatiale AS350B | East Cameron 71 | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 2002 | Beechcraft 95-B55 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | Charles A. Moran | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 2002 | Steen SE-1 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Nov 2002 | Cessna 208B | Parks, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 13 Jul 2002 | McConnell LANCAIR 320 | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Mar 2002 | Pilatus UV-20A | Marana, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 16 Mar 2002 | Avian MAGNUM IX | Sedona, Arizona, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |