# NTSB CEN10CA545: Aerospatiale AS 355F1, N5802W, Pikes Peak, CO, September 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 17, 2010, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Pikes Peak, CO - Coordinates: 39.06044, -105.310379 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0604&lon=-105.3104&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor - Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77315 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA545 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77315/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77315 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA545 ## Probable cause The helicopter's encounter with an unexpected downdraft, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Terrain: high elevation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8680810), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was operating his dual turbine-engine helicopter near a mountain in an effort to film an automobile driving on a road below. The pilot stated that he had operated around this particular mountain several times a year over the past 24 years and had established a flight profile which minimized the associated risks. One sharp turn in the road near the peak required the pilot to fly outbound from the mountain and make a gentle 180-degree turn back to film the automobile. When the pilot flew outbound from the mountain the flying conditions were normal. However, after turning 180 degrees and on the inbound leg towards the mountain, the helicopter encountered a downdraft and was pushed toward the rising terrain. Helicopter performance at that altitude did not provide the pilot with a power margin great enough to arrest the descent. The pilot elected to perform a landing to the road rather than risk a turn down the rocky mountain slope. The helicopter subsequently touched down hard and rolled over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The airline transport certified pilot was operating his dual turbine-engine helicopter near a 14,110 foot high mountain in order to film an automobile driving up a road. The pilot stated that he had operated around this particular mountain several times a year over the past 24 years and had established a flight profile which minimized the associated risks. One sharp turn in the road near the peak required the pilot to fly outbound from the mountain and make a gentle 180-degree turn back to film the automobile. When the pilot flew outbound from the mountain the flying conditions were normal. However, after turning 180 degrees and on the inbound leg towards the mountain, the helicopter encountered a downdraft and was pushed towards the rising terrain. Helicopter performance at that altitude did not provide the pilot with a power margin great enough to "power out" of the descent. The pilot elected to perform a landing to the road rather than risk a turn down the rocky mountain slope. The helicopter subsequently touched down hard and rolled over coming to rest on the left side. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the pilot received minor injuries. The three passengers were not injured. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5802W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5802W-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 5221, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS 355F1 - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355F1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355f1) (registry code 8680810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-C20 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (registry code 03020, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5221 - Engines: ALLISON 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft; ALLISON 250-C20 SER 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Aircam National Helicopter Services Inc, doing business as Aircam National Helicopter Services Inc - Registered owner: Jbd Enterprises Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Basecamp LZ, CO - Destination: Basecamp LZ, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 18, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 27,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 27,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 21 °F ## 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 20100917044559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100917044559A), Sep 17, 2010: Aerospatial AS 355F1, Manatou Springs, CO, Substantial damage. On September 17, 2010 ar aprx 0700, ac N5802W an AS355 helicopter impacted the terrain aprx one mile sw of the summit of pikes peak, CO at 14000' MSL. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77315. 661 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous: Weight and balance (item 2, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Weight%20and%20balance-Master.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.