Eurocopter AS365 N520CF

Summary

On 26 July 2022 at about 08:55 local time, a Eurocopter AS365 registered N520CF, operated by Air Methods Corp, was involved in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2022 at 08:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Hamilton, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

39.3968, -84.5614

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS365

Registration

N520CF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1998

Engines

2

Operator

Air Methods Corp

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lebanon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

ERA22LA334

3 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s decision to continue the landing without having visually identified wires that were known to be in the vicinity of the landing zone, which resulted in a collision with the wires while attempting an off-airport landing in dark night visual meteorological conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an air medical flight in the helicopter during early morning hours in dark night visual meteorological conditions. About 9 miles out from the intended landing zone, he contacted on-scene fire department personnel and asked for site information. The fire department personnel reported that there were high voltage power lines on the south side of the landing zone. The pilot made an approach and was looking out for the powerlines but could not locate the wires. He was wearing night vision goggles and could see the tower but not the wires. He also could not determine which way the wires were running off the tower. The pilot used the landing light and moved it up and down to try and find the wires but could not locate them. He thought the wires were farther out from the landing zone and not below the helicopter. However, as the helicopter descended for landing, the main rotor blades contacted the wires and the helicopter fell about 30 to 50 ft. All three crew members egressed after the pilot shut down the engines. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, main rotor gearbox, and motor mounts; additionally, the left engine was hanging off the side of the helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.