# Accident 20150306002569A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Saint Louis, MO, March 6, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 6, 2015, 23:10 local time
- Place: Saint Louis, MO
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 38.6222° N, 90.2336° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6222&lon=-90.2336&mi=10
- Aircraft: N356AM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N356AM-2018-01-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (registry code 8680989, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,614 total, 366 in this make and model, 29 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15FA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150306002569A

## Narrative

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

ON FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 23:10 HOURS CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, PILOT IN

COMMAND MR. RONALD S. RECTOR, FLYING AIR METHODS CORPORATION HELICOPTER N356AM CALL SIGN ARCH 26 CRASHED IN THE PARKING LOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL (SLUH) TENET CANCER CENTER BUILDING. N356AM APPROACHED THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX FROM THE SOUTH SOUTHWEST (SSW). WHILE REPOSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT FOR LANDING ON SLUH ELEVATED HELIPORT, THE ROTOR SYSTEM STRUCK THE UPPER FLOORS OF THE TENET CANCER CENTER LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX. THE AIRCRAFT FELL TO THE PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET WEST OF THE BUILDING AND BURST INTO FLAMES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED IN THE CRASH SEQUENCE AND ASSOCIATED POST CRASH FIRE. MR. RECTOR WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE CRASH.

## 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 CEN15FA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA164), Mar 7, 2015: Airbus Helicopters (Eurocopte EC-130-B4 (N356AM), St Louis, MO, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land during unfavorable wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to settling with power. Contributing to the accident were the lack of an adequate approach…

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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