Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL N352SL

Summary

On 16 December 2014 at about 16:00 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL registered N352SL, operated by Utah Highway Patrol, was involved in an accident near Bicknell, Utah, United States. 4 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

16 December 2014 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Bicknell, Utah, United States

Coordinates

38.3306, -111.5495

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL

Registration

N352SL

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Utah Highway Patrol

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Loa → Loa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15CA063

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to prevent the helicopter from settling with power while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the flight was in support of a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pronghorn animal capture project. During takeoff, the pilot noted that the cockpit gauges were in the green range an indication that the helicopter had enough power available for the weight and density altitude he was operating. The pilot began herding operation, by maneuvering behind a small group of animals and successfully directing them toward the trap configured on the ground. After about 20 minutes, a large group of pronghorn were found and again the pilot maneuvered the helicopter behind them in an effort to herd them toward the trap's funnel. The animals suddenly reversed course and ran directly under the helicopter. In response, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter backward about 50 to 100 feet while applying forward cyclic and maintaining an altitude of about 15 feet above ground level. The helicopter began to settle with power and as he applied up collective, the descent rate increased. The helicopter landed hard and incurred structural damage to the tail boom and bulkhead. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.