# Accident 20090702047879A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Loris, SC, July 2, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2009, 21:01 local time
- Place: Loris, SC
- Airport: Loris Community Health
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: RMXA
- Location: 34.0589° N, 78.8983° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0589&lon=-78.8983&mi=10
- Aircraft: N53963, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53963-2019-02-23) (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: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,200 total, 150 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA378) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090702047879A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 2, 2009,AT 2101HRS, IN VMC CONDITIONS, A HEMS HELICOPTER CIRCLED TO LAND AT THE HELIPAD NEAR LORIS MEDICAL CENTER, LORIS, SC FOR AN APPROACH AND LANDING.  ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT ASKED CREWMEMBERS IN THE REAR TO CALL OUT WHEN CLEAR OF THE OBSTACLES.  THE CREWMEMBER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT ANNOUNCED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEAR OF THE TREES AND POLES. THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS APPROACH TO THE CENTER OF THE HELIPAD AND JUST PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN HEARD A BANG FOLLOWED BY A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE CENTER OF THE HELIPAD.  THE FLIGHT NURSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT OPENED THE DOOR TO OBSERVE THE TAILROTOR BLADES WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT EXECUTED THE EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN.  THE TAILROTOR BLADES HAD CONTACTED A VERTICAL CONCRETE AND STEEL BARRIER POLE ON THE PERIMETER OF THE HELIPAD.  ALL CREWMEMBERS WERE AWARE OF THE VERTICAL STRUCTURES BUT HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THEM AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA09LA378](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA378), Jul 3, 2009: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N53963), Loris, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The crew's failure to see and avoid a steel pole during a nighttime approach to the helipad.

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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