Eurocopter AS 350 B2 N115SH

Summary

On 22 July 2013 at about 14:15 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 registered N115SH, operated by Sundance Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 2 people were 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

22 July 2013 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Las Vegas (KLAS)

Coordinates

36.0747, -115.1514

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2

Registration

N115SH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Sundance Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13LA334

Nobody was injured.

The pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain control of the helicopter in a hover, which resulted in a tail rotor ground strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to provide the helicopter-rated pilot with "differences" training in a helicopter that is flown from the left seat instead of the standard right seat. The helicopter did not have dual controls, and the instructor was seated in a rear seat, observing over the student's shoulder. The instructor reported that the pilot over controlled the helicopter as it picked up to a hover, and the helicopter moved fore and aft with a slight yaw. The helicopter continued to move fore and aft and the yaw increased. The pilot receiving instruction reported that the nose yawed to the left, the helicopter started to "jump," and she lowered the collective to put the helicopter on the ground. The condition worsened, and she picked the helicopter up to a hover as instructed; however, she was unable to maintain control of the helicopter, and the tail rotor hit the ground. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation were reported. Because the helicopter did not have dual controls, the flight instructor was unable to take action to regain control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.