20051120028681A

(-23) On November 20, 2005, about 2048 eastern standard time, an aerospatiale AS350B, aerospatiale operated as a 14 CFR part 91 positioning flight, and an Eurocopter ec 130B4, operated as a 14 CFR part 91 positioning flight collided in-flight while both helicopters were inbound to land at motorsports complex heliport (speedway heliport), Homestead, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for either flight. Both helicopters sustained substantial damage. The pilot of the aerospatiale helicopter was not injured. The pilot of the Eurocopter helicopter was fatally injured. The aerospatiale flight originated at ocean reef club airport, key largo, Florida. The Eurocopter flight originated at kendall-tamiami executive airport, miami, Florida. The two helicopters were arriving at the Homestead-miami raceway to pick-up passengers for transport to other local facilities. One helicopter was approaching from the southeast making a right hand turn to the landing area. The second helicopter was arriving from the west, straight in to the landing area. The Homestead air reserve base (khst) air traffic control tower advised him to proceed direct to the speedway heliport. The controller advised him they had no traffic advisory for him and frequency change to the "race control frequency" was approved. He contacted "race control" on frequency 134.3 mhz. He was advised to report when his flight was 1 mile south of the speedway heliport, which the pilot complied with. He was to follow an Agusta 109 helicopter. The Agusta 109 helicopter at the time of his radio call was located just north of the westernmost pad at the speedway heliport, and was in a 5-foot hover. He was on a modified right base for landing to the east at the speedway heliport, and turned on to final where, the pilot reported, "...shortly after that (I am not sure exactly how long) I felt a shudder and then the aircraft started to vibrate significantly (I do not remember my altitude or airspeed at that time)." He reported hearing the president of biscayne helicopters, inc., advise over the frequency that there had been a midair collision. He performed a run-on landing on grass west of the helipads, and while the helicopter started to slow, it began turning and listing to the left. He began securing the helicopter when the main rotor blades began to slow, and exited the helicopter. Numerous witnesses reported seeing the aerospatiale helicopter, which was observed flying southwest of the speedway heliport, turn to the east. Simultaneously, the Eurocopter helicopter was flying in an easterly direction, and was located west of the speedway heliport. The witnesses reported that the aerospatiale helicopter was slightly higher and to the right of the Eurocopter helicopter when the collision occurred. The witnesses reported that the Eurocopter helicopter descended almost immediately, while the aerospatiale helicopter continued flying in an easterly direction and landed at the speedway heliport. According to the individual who was located at the speedway heliport and was providing "VFR advisory service" to inbound helicopters, the pilots of both helicopters announced they were inbound to the speedway heliport. He further stated that he had visual contact with the aerospatiale helicopter, but he never had visual contact by landing or strobe light with the Eurocopter helicopter, which was on a straight-in approach landing to the east. The aerospatiale helicopter was assigned to the west edge of the grass, and the Eurocopter helicopter was assigned to the west pad, which was confirmed by the pilot. He noticed the aerospatiale helicopter was in a right turn at the time of the collision, and did not see the Eurocopter helicopter until the time of the collision. At the time of the collision, a helicopter was located on the east and center pads at the speedway heliport, and both were preparing to depart. He did not recall hearing the pilot of the Eurocopter helicopter provide a position report on his initial contact, and his impression was that the Eurocopter helicopter was "farther away." The pilot of the Eurocopter is seated on the left side of the aircraft. The pilot of the aerospatiale is seated on the right side. This arrangement possibly created a blind spot that may have reduced the ability of the pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft. There were communications with a ground advisor that had no air traffic control responsibilities. They provided landing and other aircraft advisories to the inbound or departing aircraft. Aerospatiale was making a right turn when it descended into Eurocopter helicopter rotor blades. Aerospatiale continued and landed in the landing area. The left skid departed the airframe during the landing. Aircraft came to rest tilted to the left with the left side on the ground and the right skid in the air. The aircraft was on about a 40-degree tilt. The rotor blades impacted the ground during the landing. After impact Eurocopter helicopter lost flight capability. Its descent was almost straight down. It landed on the right side. The aircraft impacted two house trailers. The pilot was extracted by local fire department personnel and transported to hospital. Ground personnel communicating with the pilots of both aircraft were performing only in an advisory capacity. They would assign landing spots and advise aircraft of other known traffic approaching the landing area. Statements made to investigators indicated aerospatiale was to follow an augusta and land at the refueling area.