# Accident 20180929016489A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Ruidoso, NM, September 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 2018, 15:00 local time
- Place: Ruidoso, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: 04VA
- Location: 33.3967° N, 105.7858° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3967&lon=-105.7858&mi=10
- Aircraft: N894NA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N894NA-2021-03-11) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 16,786 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA571) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180929016489A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 AN ASTAR 350 B2 HELICOPTER (N894NA) REGISTERED TO ROBERTS AIRCRAFT COMPANY DEPARTED ARTESIA, NM FOR RUIDOSO, NM TO PICK-UP A PATIENT. WHILE ENROUTE, LANDING LOCATION CHANGED TO THE TOP OF SKI APACHE (SIERRA BLANCA MOUNTAINS). VMC CONDITIONS PREVAILED WITH LIGHT WINDS. AIRCRAFT HAD A HARD LANDING RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WITH NO INJURIES.

## 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 GAA18CA571](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA571), Sep 29, 2018: Eurocopter AS350 (N894NA), Ruidoso, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain the proper descent rate during landing. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s failure to conduct preflight performance calculations, which resulted in his…

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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