# Accident 20101219055399A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, La Monte, MO, December 19, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 19, 2010, 10:00 local time
- Place: La Monte, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 38.7631° N, 93.4178° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7631&lon=-93.4178&mi=10
- Aircraft: N549AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N549AM-2021-11-15) (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: 3
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 7,929 total, 297 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN11FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101219055399A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT WAS POINTED WEST ON HELIPAD, AND UPON LIFT-OFF, THE PILOT STATES THAT HE "BEGAN A SLOW CLIMB AND LEFT PEDAL TURN IN ORDER TO POINT THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD THE SOUTHEAST."  AS HE VERTICALLY CLEARED A TREE THAT WAS DIRECTLY EAST OF THE PAD (APPROX. 100 FEET AGL), HE BEGAN "A SLOW TRANSITION TO FORWARD FLIGHT" AT WHICH TIME HE "IMMEDIATELY HEARD A LOUD BANG," FOLLOWED BY "SEVERAL ALARMS," AND AN INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH HE "NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING WAS RED."  AS THE PILOT PULLED BACK ON THE COLLECTIVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DESCENT, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE HELIPAD, DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE PILOT, FLIGHT NURSE AND PARAMEDIC.  INITIAL ON SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE.  SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION AND TEST CELL RUN OF THE ENGINE WAS SATISFACTORY.  AIRCRAFT VEMD MEMORY SHOWED THAT THE FLIGHT LASTED ABOUT THREE MINUTES, AND BEFORE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THERE WERE NO FAILURES OR OVERLIMITS.  FLIGHT NURSE AND PARAMEDIC STATED THAT THEY DID NOT RECALL HEARING A "BANG" DURING THE CHAIN OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS UNKNOWN.

## 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 CEN11FA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA118), Dec 19, 2010: Eurocopter AS350-B2 (N549AM), La Monte, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: An interruption of fuel to the engine due to air in the fuel lines, which resulted in an engine flameout and the total loss of engine power. The reason for air in the fuel line resulting in an engine…

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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