# Accident 20030418005569A: Aerosp AS355N, Redding, CA, April 18, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 2003, 10:15 local time
- Place: Redding, CA
- Airport: Redding Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.5803° N, 122.4133° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5803&lon=-122.4133&mi=10
- Aircraft: N355J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355J-2018-02-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter/France AS355N TWINSTAR (registry code 8680970, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-as355n-twinstar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-1A (registry code 60011, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSP AS355N
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030418005569A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A SPLIT BETWEEN THE ENGINSE TORQUE. HE ALSO HEARD A HIGH PICH NOISE, THE AIRCRAFT THEN STARTED TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCH DOWN. AS HE STARTED TO LOSE CONTRONL OF THE AIRCRAFT, HE DECIDED TO PLACE THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. AFTER DOING SO, THE MAIN ROTOR HIT SOME BUSHES THAT WERE NEAR THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR TO SEPARATE AND ALSO CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SKID AND MAIN ROTOR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX03LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA138), Apr 18, 2003: Eurocopter France AS355N (N355J), Redding, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate obstruction clearance during landing, which resulted in the tail rotor contacting a brush pile. The accident sequence was precipitated by the initiation of a…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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