20220729007899A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Andalusia, AL · July 29, 2022

Date: July 29, 2022 · 15:00 local
Place: Andalusia, AL
Phase of flight: Descent
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: QMLA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N124LN
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA22FA343
Reported as: Eurocopter AS 350 B2
Reported engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 3
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,190 total625 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days

N124LNRegistered now · Eurocopter AS 350 B2S/N 4130 · Built 2006 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1D1Turbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft was on a 1 mile final for a hospital helipad when the aircraft began a slowturn to the left. Crew member queired the pilot but got no response. The aircraft continued to bank left and pitch up as it began to descend. The crew member then vigorously tried to converse with the pilot by slamming the back of of his seat but again got not response. The aircraft then hit wires and trees before striking the ground, coming to rest on its right side.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS ON A 1 MILE FINAL FOR A HOSPITAL HELIPAD WHEN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SLOWTURN TO THE LEFT. CREW MEMBER QUEIRED THE PILOT BUT GOT NO RESPONSE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO BANK LEFT AND PITCH UP AS IT BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE CREW MEMBER THEN VIGOROUSLY TRIED TO CONVERSE WITH THE PILOT BY SLAMMING THE BACK OF OF HIS SEAT BUT AGAIN GOT NOT RESPONSE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN HIT WIRES AND TREES BEFORE STRIKING THE GROUND, COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA22FA343Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAndalusia, ALThe pilot’s acute incapacitation by a syncopal episode, which resulted in the helicopter departing controlled flight and colliding with terrain.Jul 29, 2022 · Substantial damage