# Accident 20120225004869A: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, El Cajon, CA, February 25, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 25, 2012, 13:15 local time
- Place: El Cajon, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: MHHA
- Location: 32.9339° N, 116.9969° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9339&lon=-116.9969&mi=10
- Aircraft: N118MB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118MB) (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: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 17,000 total, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120225004869A

## Narrative

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

ON FEBRUARY 25, 2012 PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD A HARD LANDING WHILE PILOTING HELICOPTER N118MB WHILE WORKING FOR MOUNTAIN AIR HELICOPTERS ON THE SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC SUNRISE POWERLINK PROJECT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT WHILE ON APPROACH DURING A HELICOPTER REPOSITIONING FLIGHT WITHOUT ANY PASSENGERS ON BOARD, A MODERATE AMOUNT OF WIND VORTICES CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO SETTLE INTO THE GROUND.  THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE SURFACE, BOUNCED ONCE, AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT A FEW FEET AHEAD OF THE INITIAL CONTACT POINT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD JUST UNBOARDED PASSENGERS WORKING ON THE SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC SUNRISE POWERLINK PROJECT AND WAS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF A REPOSITIONING FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING SITE IN THE DESSERT AREA OF EAST COUNTY SAN DIEGO.  AS A RESULT, THE HELICOPTER TAIL BOOM WAS PARTIALLY SEVERED AT THE TAIL CONE ATTACHING POINT, HOWEVER THE TAIL ROTOR DID NOT CONTACT THE GROUND .  THE LEFT PORTION OF THE LANDING GEAR HAD ALSO PARTIALLY COLLAPSED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITHOUT INJURY AND SURVEYED THE DAMAGE.  WHEN HE REALIZED THAT FURTHER FLIGHT WAS NOT SAFE, HE CONTACTED MOUNTAIN AIR HELICOPTERS DISPATCH FOR ASSISTANCE.  THE HELICOPTER WAS THEN TRANSPORTED BACK TO GILLESPIE FIELD AIRPORT IN EL CAJON CA AND STORED AT BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS.

## 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 WPR12CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA118), Feb 25, 2012: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N118MB), Poway, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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