# NTSB ATL06CA026: Eurocopter France AS-350-B2, N350ET, Jasper, AL, December 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 22, 2005, 13:19 local (19:19 UTC) - Place: Jasper, AL - Coordinates: 33.884998, -87.197219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8850&lon=-87.1972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62982 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62982/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA026 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a visual look out, and proper altitude clearance during a low level flight, resulting in an in-flight collision with a power line. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - wire,transmission - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was in cruise flight at 400 feet AGL looking for a bridge that crossed a river. The pilot stated that he did not maintain a visual look out and was not familiar with the area. Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter collided with an overhead ground wire near Black Water Creek in-between Alabama Power Structure 51 and 52. The pilot stated that he maintained control of the helicopter, and flew the helicopter to his house and landed. Examination of the helicopter revealed it received structural damage to the nose, windscreen, lower chin bubble, overhead window, left door post and cabin roof. The pilot called an employee on a cell phone. The employee met him at his house after landing the helicopter and transported the pilot to a local area hospital. The pilot's right middle finger was amputated due to injuries sustained during the wire strike. The passenger was not injured. The pilot stated the helicopter did not have any mechanical problems before the in-flight collision with the power lines. ## Factual narrative The pilot was in cruise flight at 400 feet AGL looking for a bridge that crossed a river. The pilot stated he did not maintain a visual look out and was not familiar with the area. Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter collided with an overhead ground wire near Black Water Creek in-between Alabama Power Structure 51 and 52. Title 14 CFR Part 91.119, Section (b) and (c) states, over sparsely populated areas, no aircraft may be operated closer than 500 feet to any structure. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed if the operation is conducted without hazards to persons or property on the surface. The pilot stated he maintained control of the helicopter, and flew the helicopter to his house and landed. Examination of the helicopter revealed it received structural damage to the nose, windscreen, lower chin bubble, overhead window, left door post and cabin roof. The pilot called an employee on a cell phone. The employee met him at his house after landing the helicopter and transported the pilot to a local area hospital. The pilot's right middle finger was amputated due to injuries sustained during the wire strike. The passenger was not injured. The pilot stated the helicopter did not have any mechanical problems before the in-flight collision with the power lines. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350ET](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350ET-2021-08-26), registration cancelled 2021-08-26, S/N 3068, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter France AS-350-B2 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3068 - Airframe hours: 1360 - Engines: Turbomeca ARREL 1SER turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert L. Banks - Registered owner: Sunshine Air Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2005 - Departed: 3M2, Double Springs, AL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 5,600 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: BHM, 45 nm away ## 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 20051222030739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051222030739A), Dec 22, 2005: Snias AS350B2, Jasper, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was flying low over an area he had not flown over before and hit the ridge wire above the transmission power lines. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.