# Accident 20160929019709A: Bell 230, Fargo, ND, September 29, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 2016, 21:45 local time
- Place: Fargo, ND
- Airport: Sanford Health
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: XU5A
- Location: 46.8847° N, 96.7856° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8847&lon=-96.7856&mi=10
- Aircraft: N903SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N903SH-2016-12-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 230 (registry code 1182149, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-230) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 230
- Reported engine: ALLISON 250-C30 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,209 total, 198 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN16CA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA393) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160929019709A

## Narrative

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

WHILE EXECUTING AN APPROACH TO THE HELIPAD, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT FORCING THE TAIL ROTOR TO MAKE CONTACT WITH A FENCE SURROUNDING A JET A FUEL TANK ON A PLATFORM BELOW THE HELIPAD. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY LANDED THE AIRCRAFT ON THE HELIPAD WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR SECTION.

## 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 CEN16CA393](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA393), Sep 30, 2016: Bell 230 (N903SH), Fargo, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the ground obstacle during the landing with gusting winds present.

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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