20051003022499A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Snias AS350B · Grand Canyon, AZ · October 3, 2005

Date: October 3, 2005 · 17:10 local
Place: Grand Canyon, AZ
Airport: Grand Canyon National Park
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: Q2KA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N31MH
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06CA003
Reported as: Snias AS350B
Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
People aboard: 7
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,790 total240 in this make and model240 in the last 90 days

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 pilot was setting the helicopter down on a pad with a gusting tailwind. A gust of wind apparently forced the aircraft to suddenly impact hard on the right front skid. Ground resonance occurred immediately and the helicopter suffered substantial damage to the tailboom and right skid.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT WAS SETTING THE HELICOPTER DOWN ON A PAD WITH A GUSTING TAILWIND. A GUST OF WIND APPARENTLY FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO SUDDENLY IMPACT HARD ON THE RIGHT FRONT SKID. GROUND RESONANCE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AND THE HELICOPTER SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM AND RIGHT SKID.

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 LAX06CA003Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportGrand Canyon, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing and ground resonance.Oct 4, 2005 · Substantial damage