# Accident 20040927024219A: Snias AS350B3, Las Cruces, NM, September 27, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 27, 2004, 23:43 local time
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: NE6A
- Location: 32.2869° N, 106.9197° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2869&lon=-106.9197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N497AE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,239 total, 90 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN04LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040927024219A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT INITIATED DEPARTURE FROM UNLIGHTED HOSPITAL HELICOPTER PAD. TIME WAS 1143 PM WITH CLEAR SKIES, APPROX. 4 KNOTS OF WIND AND A FULL MOON. HE ADMITS THAT THE LANDING LIGHT WAS NOT TURNED ON PRIOR TO HOVERING THE AIRCRAFT. NOTED SOIL COMPOSITION IS PALE WHITE AND THE HELIPAD WAS IN FORMER GRAVEL PIT WITH SANDY SOIL RISING ABOVE THE AIRCRAFT IN ALMOST ALL QUADRANTS. THIS SOIL AND ILLUMINATION COMBINATION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO EITHER LOSS OF VISUAL CUES OR A FLAT LIGHTNING SITUATION WITH LOSS OF VISUAL REFERENCE. PILOT INDICATED HE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS STICKING IN THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AND WAS LOOKING DOWN INTO THE LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS IN THE COCKPIT. THE AIRCRAFT APPARENTLY WAS IN MOTION AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. GROUND SCARS WITH "PAINT TRANSFERS" FROM THE LANDING GEAR ON THE HELIPAD INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN MOTION LATERAL AND MOVING AFT AND THAT THE GROUND RESONANCE SPRING OF THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE PAD. APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE INITIATOR OF "DYNAMIC ROLLOVER." THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PRE-IMPACT ANOMALIES OR MALFUNCTIONS. CONTINUITY AND FUNCTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE ESTABLISHED AND THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM DRIVE BELT WAS IN PLACE AND THE RESERVOIR SERVICED.

## 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 DEN04LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04LA149), Sep 28, 2004: American Eurocopter AS-350-B3 (N497AE), Las Cruces, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff resulting in the helicopter's skid striking the helipad and the helicopter's subsequent rollover. Factors contributing to the accident…

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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