# Accident 20200803012779A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Knoxville, TN, August 3, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 3, 2020, 19:41 local time
- Place: Knoxville, TN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9453° N, 83.9564° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9453&lon=-83.9564&mi=10
- Aircraft: N55GJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55GJ) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 11,300 total, 300 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA273) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200803012779A

## Narrative

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

ON 8/3/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1941L N55GJ, WITH FOUR SOULS ON BOARD, WAS CONDUCTING A STEEP (250) APPROACH TO LANDING AT A PRIVATE RESIDENCE ADJACENT LAKE LAUDON. ONCE N55GJ INTERCEPTED ITS APPROACH ANGLE THE PILOT REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE AND ESTABLISHED A RATE OF DECENT AND SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO NEAR ETL. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE LANDING AREA THE PILOT INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF DECENT BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. MORE COLLECTIVE WAS APPLIED WITHOUT RESPONSE AND THE N55GJ SETTLED IN ITS OWN DOWNWASH. N55GJ IMPACTED THE WATER AND SANK TO APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO SINKING. WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED FEW CLOUDS AT 4,000 FT, BROKEN CLOUDS AT 25,000 FT, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, AND WIND FROM 080° AT 5 KTS. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 27° C, THE DEW POINT WAS 20° C; AND THE ALTIMETER SETTING WAS 29.91 INCHES OF MERCURY. THE N55GJ ACCIDENT IS IN THE INVESTIGATION PHASE AND THE A-CE-19-20-034 WILL BE AMENDED WHEN THE INVESTIGATION PHASE IS COMPLETED.

## 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 ERA20LA273](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA273), Aug 3, 2020: Eurocopter EC130 (N55GJ), Knoxville, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's entry into vortex ring state and his inability to arrest the helicopter's descent while maneuvering for 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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