# Accident 20220726020089A: Eurocopter AS365N3, Hamilton, OH, July 26, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2022, 04:35 local time
- Place: Hamilton, OH
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: QMLA
- Location: 39.3968° N, 84.5614° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3968&lon=-84.5614&mi=10
- Aircraft: N520CF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N520CF-2024-07-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS365N3 (registry code 8680903, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as365n3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2C (registry code 60054, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS365N3
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2C
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 3
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,345 total, 621 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220726020089A

## Narrative

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

ON 7/26/2022 AT 0435, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EUROCOPTER AS365N3, WHILE RESPONDING TO AN EMS/HAA CALL, THE PILOT STRUCK HIGH TENSION WIRES DURING APPROACH TO THE LANDING ZONE AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING.  PILOT FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE HIGH-TENSION WIRES PRIOR TO LANDING.

THE PILOT WAS MADE AWARE OF WIRES IN THE VICINITY OF LANDING ZONE (LZ) BUT FAILED TO PERFORM A 360 DEGREE RECONNAISANCE MANEUVER OR OTHER APPROPRIATE MEANS TO IDENTIFY OBSTACLES. THIS PARTICULAR FLIGHT PATH WAS DEPICTED BY A FLIGHTAWARE IMAGE OF THE FLIGHT IN QUESTION.

HOWEVER, PER THE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT THOUGHT HE HAD COMPLETED A 360 DEGREE HIGH RECONNAISSANCE PASS.

IN THIS PARTICULAR ACCIDENT, THE LZ SET UP BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT(S) WAS SET UP INCORRECTLY AS IT INCLUDED HIGH TENSTION WIRES WITHIN THE LANDING ZONE ITSELF.

## 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 ERA22LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA334), Jul 26, 2022: Eurocopter AS365 (N520CF), Hamilton, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue the landing without having visually identified wires that were known to be in the vicinity of the landing zone, which resulted in a collision with the wires while…

## Other reports on N520CF (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20140709010719I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140709010719I), Jul 9, 2014: Eurocopter AS365N3 (N520CF), Moraine, OH, Minor damage. The helicopter was in a hover at night when the pilot noticed the helicopter in a slow rearward drift. When the pilot started to adjust for the drift the tail…
- [Incident 20100704038179I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100704038179I), Jul 4, 2010: Eurocopter AS365N3 (N520CF), Dayton, OH, Minor damage. During cruise flight at 2000 feet, the upper front corner of the emergency egress door was dislodged, the airstream caught door and bent the top half down to…

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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