# Accident 20090222003919A: Snias AS350B2, Cave Creek, AZ, February 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 22, 2009, 20:55 local time
- Place: Cave Creek, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HEEA
- Location: 33.8181° N, 111.8978° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8181&lon=-111.8978&mi=10
- Aircraft: N353P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N353P-2014-03-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,104 total, 620 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA125) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090222003919A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON FEBRUARY 22, 2009 AT ABOUT 1955 MST, A EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2, N353P REGISTERED/OPERATED BY PHI INC, (HEEA) WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A HARD LANDING WHILE LANDING IN A DIRTY PARKING LOT.  THE PILOT AND CREW (2) STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE LANDING ZONE (LZ) THE PILOT ASKED GROUND FIRE CREW IF THE AREA OF THE LZ WAS WET, THE CREW STATED THAT THEY WERE INFORMED THAT THE LZ WAS DAMP.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HIGH RECONNAISSANCE OF THE LZ WAS CONDUCTED.  THE PILOT AND ONE CREW MEMBER WERE WEARING NIGHT VISION GOGGLES (NVG).  THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON ENTERING THE LZ AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AGL THEY PICKED UP A LITTLE DUST, AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 FEET AGL THEY HIT A "BROWN-OUT".  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE REDUCED POWER TO GET TO THE GROUND QUICKER AND AT APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AGL LOST REFERENCES THROUGH THE NVG'S.  THE PILOT STATED THAT UPON AFTER CONTACTING THE GROUND THEY HAD DRIFTED 15 FEET CLOSER TO THE FIRE TRUCK AND OFFICE BUILDING.  NEITHER THE CREW MEMBER WEARING NVG NOR THE PILOT CALLED OUT SUGGESTING TO ABORT THE LANDING.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE TAXI LIGHT AND SEARCH LIGHT WERE ON AND INDICATED THAT THE SEARCH LIGHT WAS PROJECTING LIGHT AT OR ABOUT THE PILOT'S 1:00 TO 3:00 POSITION.

## 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 WPR09LA125](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA125), Feb 23, 2009: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N353P), Cave Creek, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudged landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the brownout condition created by the dust cloud that interfered with the pilot's perception of proximity to the ground, and the…

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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