Eurocopter AS 350 N790AM

Summary

On 6 December 2017 at about 16:00 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 registered N790AM, operated by US Department of Homeland Security, was involved in an accident near Santa Rosa, Arizona, 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

6 December 2017 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Rosa, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

32.2336, -112.1836

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350

Registration

N790AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

US Department of Homeland Security

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tucson → Tucson

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA070

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing off airport, the helicopter landed slightly harder than normal. The pilot flew the helicopter back to the airport without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter had sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.