# Accident 20100316032849A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Parker, AZ, March 16, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 16, 2010, 10:30 local time
- Place: Parker, AZ
- Airport: Lapaz Regional Hospital
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: RMXA
- Location: 34.1367° N, 114.2856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1367&lon=-114.2856&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4282, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4282) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100316032849A

## Narrative

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

ON 3-16-2010 OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTER N4282, S/N 4282 LOCATED AT LA PAZ REGIONAL HOSPITAL, PARKER, AZ SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE, RIGHT SIDE OF TAILBOOM AND LOWER VERTICAL FIN.  THE DAMAGE OCCURED DUE TO A 12" CRESCENT WRENCH BEING LEFT ON OR NEAR THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SLEEVE.  THE OMNIFLIGHT MECHANICS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WERE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE DUE TO A PILOT REPORT OF VIBRATION.  THE MECHANICS HAD MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO BLADE WEIGHTS, TRIM TABS AND COLLECTIVE ROD LENGHTS.  THE WRENCH WAS SLUNG BACK UPON ROTATION OF THE MAIN ROTOR, THUS IMPACTING THE LEADING EDGE OF "RED" BLADE, STRIKING THE TAIL BOOM AND FINALLY HITTING THE LOWER VERTICAL FIN.  THE PILOT NOR MECHANICS WERE INJURED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANY SURROUNDING STRUCTURES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR REPAIRS.  THE WRENCH WAS NOT FOUND ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS.

## 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 WPR10CA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA164), Mar 16, 2010: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N4282), Parker, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanics' failure to account for all the tools following a maintenance procedure and the pilot's failure to perform a preflight check before a maintenance test flight.

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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