# Accident 20040523013099A: Bell 412, San Antonio, TX, May 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2004, 16:05 local time
- Place: San Antonio, TX
- Airport: Baptist Med Ctr Heliport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 29.4328° N, 98.4922° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4328&lon=-98.4922&mi=10
- Aircraft: N555BA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555BA-2007-04-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 412 (registry code 1182202, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 series (registry code 52103, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-3-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 412
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,011 total, 1,300 in this make and model, 78 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA133) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040523013099A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 23, 2004, AT APPROXIMATELY 1605 CDT, A BELL 412 HELICOPTER, N555BA, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN ITS TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A PARKED HELICOPTER WHILE HOVERING PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL HELIPAD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE FLIGHT NURSE, AND FLIGHT PAREMEDIC WERE NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO AIR METHODS, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, AND OPERATED BY SAN ANTONIO AIRLIFE, IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE 14 CFR PART 91 REPOSITIONING FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS DESTINED FOR NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, WHILE IN A HOVER AND EXECUTING A RIGHT PEDAL TURN, THE HELICOPTER'S TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A PARKED HELICOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THE AIRBORNE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO YAW RIGHT AND THE PILOT REDUCED COLLECTIVE AND THROTTLES. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD ON THE PAD SURFACE.

## 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 FTW04LA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA133), May 23, 2004: Bell 412 (N555BA), San Antonio, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked helicopter while performing a hovering turn.

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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