Eurocopter EC130 N864MH

Summary

On 26 February 2017 at about 18:00 local time, a Eurocopter EC130 registered N864MH, operated by Maverick Helicopters Inc., was involved in an accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. 3 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

26 February 2017 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Mc Carran Intl (LAS)

Coordinates

36.0800, -115.1522

Aircraft

Eurocopter EC130

Registration

N864MH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Maverick Helicopters Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA167

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's abrupt cyclic/pitch attitude control movement, which resulted in a Fenestron ground strike.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the hover-taxi for departure in the ramp area, he was monitoring another helicopter that had just departed and then "brought [his] eyes inside [the helicopter]" to switch a radio frequency. As the pilot looked back outside, he observed "the nose of a big plane taxiing" from behind another parked airplane to his left. Subsequently, the pilot abruptly applied aft cyclic to stop the helicopter's forward momentum, and the Fenestron struck the ramp. The pilot returned to the ramp area without further incident. The Fenestron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.