20041214030089A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Urocop AS 350 B3 · Apache Junctio, AZ · December 14, 2004

Date: December 14, 2004 · 22:35 local
Place: Apache Junctio, AZ
Phase of flight: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: HEEA
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N971AE
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05FA053
Reported as: Urocop AS350B3
Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1S
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,600 total80 in this make and model24 in the last 90 days

N971AERegistration cancelled Sep 14, 2005 · Eurocopter AS 350 B3S/N 3230 · Built 1999 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B3 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1SERTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission at 3003 w. Apache trail in Apache junction, AZ. The aircraft approached the landing zone from the southwest and circled north to make a final approach to the southwest. While at about 300' AGL the aircraft rolled to the right about 30 degrees then to the left about 30 degrees and then to the right again about 45 degrees, it then pitched nose up then down and plunged to the ground according to witnesses. The Apache junction police dept was on scene to secure the landing zone and witnessed the event. In this accident petroleum helicopters was bda air evac, inc.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A MEDICAL EVACUATION MISSION AT 3003 W. APACHE TRAIL IN APACHE JUNCTION, AZ. THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AND CIRCLED NORTH TO MAKE A FINAL APPROACH TO THE SOUTHWEST. WHILE AT ABOUT 300' AGL THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 30 DEGREES THEN TO THE LEFT ABOUT 30 DEGREES AND THEN TO THE RIGHT AGAIN ABOUT 45 DEGREES, IT THEN PITCHED NOSE UP THEN DOWN AND PLUNGED TO THE GROUND ACCORDING TO WITNESSES. THE APACHE JUNCTION POLICE DEPT WAS ON SCENE TO SECURE THE LANDING ZONE AND WITNESSED THE EVENT. IN THIS ACCIDENT PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS WAS BDA AIR EVAC, INC.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05FA053Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportApache Junction, AZA loss of control during the final approach to land for undetermined reasons.Dec 15, 2004 · Substantial damage