# Accident 20090112001979A: Snias AS350B2, Gulf Of Mexico, US, January 12, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 12, 2009, 11:15 local time
- Place: Gulf Of Mexico, US
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: U0GA
- Location: 28.6667° N, 92.4583° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6667&lon=-92.4583&mi=10
- Aircraft: N193EH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N193EH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680813, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: NONE (registry code 00000, https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,811 total, 462 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA127) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090112001979A

## Narrative

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

AS THE ACCIDENT HELICOPTER PICKED UP INTO A HOVER, IT WAS MOVED SIDEWAYS DUE TO WIND TURBULENCE.  THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A 24" STEEL "LIGHTENING STRIKE PROTECTOR" MOUNTED VERTICALLY ON THE CORNER OF THE HELIDECK.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REDUCED COLLECTIVE AND SET THE HELICOPTER BACK ON THE DECK.

## 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 CEN09CA127](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA127), Jan 12, 2009: Eurocopter AS350 (N193EH), Vermillion 229, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known obstruction. Contributing to the accident was the location/placement of lightning rods in the landing zone.

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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