# NTSB ANC22LA015: Eurocopter France AS350B2, N752CH, Kahului, HI, December 25, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 25, 2021, 12:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Kahului, HI
- Coordinates: 20.889414, -156.43325
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8894&lon=-156.4332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104544
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104544/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA015

## Probable cause

The pilot’s abrupt flight control inputs to correct for dynamic rollover, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Eurocopter France AS350B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=8680973), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter France AS350B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=8680973), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was repositioning the helicopter from one landing pad to another. As the helicopter lifted off the ground, the right skid became momentarily stuck, and the helicopter began to roll to the right. To prevent dynamic rollover, the pilot immediately lowered the collective. As a result, the helicopter’s left skid struck the ground and the helicopter bounced, sustaining substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N752CH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N752CH), registered now, S/N 1906, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B2
- Registry model: [Eurocopter France AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-france-as350b2) (registry code 8680973) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Honeywell LTS101-700D-2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-700d-2) (registry code 33825, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1906
- Year built: 1986
- Airframe hours: 11640
- Engines: HONEYWELL LTS101-700D-2 732 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Sunshine Helicopters, doing business as Sunshine Helicopters
- Registered owner: Delaware Trust Co Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, December 10, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: OGG, Kahului Airport
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,536 total, 288 in this make and model, 1,436 as pilot in command, 185 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: PHOG, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR PHOG 252254Z 06017G23KT 10SM FEW035 SCT055 26/15 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP154 T02610150=

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20211225020589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211225020589A), Dec 25, 2021: Eurocopter France AS350B2, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. On December 25, 2021 at maui heliport, Kahului hi, while attempting to lift the aircraft (N752CH) to a hover to taxi across the ramp the PIC noted the aircraft…

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.

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