Eurocopter AS350BA N234AH

Summary

On 8 March 2009 at about 15:50 local time, a Eurocopter AS350BA registered N234AH, operated by Island Express Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Long Beach, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 March 2009 at 15:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Long Beach, California, United States

Nearest airport

Queensway Heliport (None)

Coordinates

33.7333, -118.1917

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS350BA

Registration

N234AH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Island Express Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Beach → Long Beach

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA148

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged speed and altitude, which resulted in an undershoot of the landing zone.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot said that he thought that the approach to the helipad seemed and felt normal, but in retrospect was flat. A witness thought that the approach was flat and fast. He indicated that the helicopter was in a nose-high attitude when the tail rotor hit the ground between rocks at the waterline and the edge of the pad. The pilot felt a jolt followed by a shutter. Because of the tail rotor damage, the helicopter yawed out of control to the left. It rotated 360 degrees as the pilot lowered the collective. Once completely on the ground, he pulled the fuel flow control lever out of the flight gate, pulled the emergency fuel shutoff control, and powered everything down while applying the main rotor brake.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.