# Accident 20170226004329A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Las Vegas, NV, February 26, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 26, 2017, 10:03 local time
- Place: Las Vegas, NV
- Airport: Mc Carran International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: M7KA
- Location: 36.0800° N, 115.1522° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0800&lon=-115.1522&mi=10
- Aircraft: N864MH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N864MH) (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: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,050 total, 11 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170226004329A

## Narrative

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

HOVER TAXIING NORTH BOUND IN BETWEEN TAXIWAY H AND THE ACCESS ROAD AT MCCARRAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, LAS VEGAS. MONITORING TAXI SPEED AND HEIGHT TO STAY WITHIN COMPANY MANDATED LIMIT OF 2-3 FOOT HOOVER AND NO MORE THAN 15 KNOTS GROUND SPEED. A COUPLE OF BIG AIRPLANES ON THE RAMP BLOCKING MY VIEW OF THE RAMPS EXIT TO THE TAXIWAY. SAW THE NOSE OF A BIG AIRPLANE TAXIING FROM BEHIND THE PARKED AIRPLANES. I APPLIED IMMEDIATE AFT CYCLIC TO STOP MY FORWARD MOVEMENT TO NOT CUT OFF THE TAXIING AIRPLANE. PULLED AFT ON THE CYCLIC, HOVER OF 2-5 FEET WAS TOO LOW FOR TAIL CLEARANCE, ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP ON THE COLLECTIVE TO CLEAR THE TAIL. WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE TAIL STRUCK THE GROUND.

## 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 GAA17CA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA167), Feb 26, 2017: Eurocopter EC130 (N864MH), Las Vegas, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's abrupt cyclic/pitch attitude control movement, which resulted in a Fenestron ground strike.

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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