# Accident 20060827018919A: Snias AS350B3, Casa Grande, AZ, August 27, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2006, 00:20 local time
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 32.8800° N, 111.7103° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8800&lon=-111.7103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N973AE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N973AE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B (registry code 60037, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B3
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL2B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA273) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060827018919A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT LIFTED OFF TO A HOVER AND WAS PREPARING TO TRANSITION INTO FORWARD FLIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER LOST POWER AT APPROXIMATELY TEN (10) FOOT OF ALTITUDE. THE PILOT MANAGED A HARD LANDING ONTO THE CASA GRANDE HOSPITAL'S HELIPAD AREA, APPLIED THE ROTOR BRAKE, AND SHUT THE HELICOPTER DOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT OR THE MEDICAL CREW AND THERE WAS NO POST EVENT FIRE. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE THREE (3) CREW MEMBERS EVACUATED THE HELICOPTER ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE HELICOPTER WAS RELEASED TO THE OPERATOR (PHI) BY THE NTSB/LAX FOR GROUND TRANSPORT TO PETROLEUM HELICOPTERS, INC./"AIREVAC'S" MAIN FACILITY AT SKY HARBOR AIRPORT/PHX.

## 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 LAX06LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06LA273), Aug 27, 2006: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N973AE), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Internal damage to the stop electro valve which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff.

## Other reports on N973AE (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20130626012069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130626012069I), Jun 26, 2013: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N973AE), Safford, AZ, Minor damage. Pilot was repositioning aircraft to pick up medical crew who had walked closer to accident scene. Pilot browned out in blowing dust and aborted landing. Upon…

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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