Airbus AS350 N839PA

Summary

On 24 August 2016 at about 20:45 local time, a Airbus AS350 registered N839PA, operated by Papillon Airways Inc., was involved in an accident near Peach Springs, Arizona, 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

24 August 2016 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Peach Springs, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Grand Canyon West (1G4)

Coordinates

35.9867, -113.8175

Aircraft

Airbus AS350

Registration

N839PA

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Papillon Airways Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peach Springs → Peach Springs

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA450

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hover taxiing backward, resulting in the tail striking terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that as the helicopter was in a hover and backed off of the landing pad, the vertical stabilizer impacted rising terrain. The pilot further reported that he was able to land back on the landing pad 30 feet away with no further incident. A post examination of the helicopter revealed that the rear vertical stabilizer had received substantial damage.      The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.