What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23)Evergreen helicopter international (lcfa) evergreen helicopters international (lcfa) dispatched an a-star AS-350 helicopter from the xto base at Nikiski, Alaska at approximately 10:00 am local on 09-28-2008. The purpose was an on demand CFR 14 part 135 flight to the spur oil well platform helipad located in cook inlet, Alaska. According to the pilot, on arrival at the helipad he aligned the aircraft on a northerly heading into the light wind out of the north while on final approach. As he arrived over the helipad, he made a right pedal turn to align the aircraft with the axis of the helipad for landing. He stated approximatley two (2) seconds prior to skid contact with the helipad, the aircraft developed a significant vibration. He stated he landed the helicopter with no problem and immediately shut the aircraft down. After the rotor blades came to a stop, he investigated the cause of the vibration and saw approximately two to three inches of the outboard portion of the tail rotor blade missing. He also stated he saw where the tail rotor had made contact with one of the structural supports that hold the helipad safety net in place.
As the FAA filed it
(-23)EVERGREEN HELICOPTER INTERNATIONAL (LCFA) EVERGREEN HELICOPTERS INTERNATIONAL (LCFA) DISPATCHED AN A-STAR AS-350 HELICOPTER FROM THE XTO BASE AT NIKISKI, ALASKA AT APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM LOCAL ON 09-28-2008. THE PURPOSE WAS AN ON DEMAND CFR 14 PART 135 FLIGHT TO THE SPUR OIL WELL PLATFORM HELIPAD LOCATED IN COOK INLET, ALASKA. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, ON ARRIVAL AT THE HELIPAD HE ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT ON A NORTHERLY HEADING INTO THE LIGHT WIND OUT OF THE NORTH WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. AS HE ARRIVED OVER THE HELIPAD, HE MADE A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO ALIGN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE AXIS OF THE HELIPAD FOR LANDING. HE STATED APPROXIMATLEY TWO (2) SECONDS PRIOR TO SKID CONTACT WITH THE HELIPAD, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION. HE STATED HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER WITH NO PROBLEM AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. AFTER THE ROTOR BLADES CAME TO A STOP, HE INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION AND SAW APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE INCHES OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE MISSING. HE ALSO STATED HE SAW WHERE THE TAIL ROTOR HAD MADE CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE STRUCTURAL SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE HELIPAD SAFETY NET IN PLACE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.