# NTSB CEN09CA127: Eurocopter AS350, N193EH, Vermillion 229, January 12, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 12, 2009, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Vermillion 229 - Coordinates: 28.666666, -92.458335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6667&lon=-92.4583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA127 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73218/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73218 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA127 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a known obstruction. Contributing to the accident was the location/placement of lightning rods in the landing zone. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8680813), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was departing the heliport at the oil rig platform and had brought the helicopter into a low hover. While in the hover, the tail rotor struck a two-foot vertical lightning rod attached to the platform edge causing damage to the tail rotor blades and horizontal stabilizer, wrinkling the tail boom, and displacing the tail rotor gear box. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to impact. The pilot stated that he had observed the lightning rod placement during previous landings on the platform as well as during the current operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was departing the heliport at the oil rig platform and had brought the helicopter into a low hover. While in the hover, the tail rotor struck a two foot vertical lightning rod attached to the platform edge causing damage to the tail rotor blades, horizontal stabilizer, wrinkling the tail boom, and displacing the tail rotor gear box. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to impact. The pilot stated that he had observed the lightning rod placement during previous landings on the platform, as well during the current operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N193EH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N193EH), registered now, S/N 2599 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS350 - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350 B2 ECUREUIL](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350-b2-ecureuil) (registry code 8680813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2599 - Airframe hours: 7885 - Engines: Ariel 1D1 712 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Era Helicopters LLC - Registered owner: Era Helicopters LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, January 11, 2009 - Departed: V299, Vermillion 229, GM - Destination: Cameron, LA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: V229, Vermilion 229 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 1,811 total, 369 in this make and model, 1,749 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg ## 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 20090112001979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090112001979A), Jan 12, 2009: Snias AS350B2, Gulf Of Mexico, US, Substantial damage. As the accident helicopter picked up into a hover, it was moved sideways due to wind turbulence. The tail rotor struck a 24" steel "lightening strike… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73218. 10.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40306814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.