# NTSB CEN15TA017: Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3, N852BP, Lordsburg, NM, October 17, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: October 17, 2014, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Lordsburg, NM - Coordinates: 31.569723, -108.873886 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5697&lon=-108.8739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, US Customs and Border Protection - NTSB case key (mKey): 90274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15TA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15TA017 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate drift control and skid clearance from the ground during takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover when the aft right skid contacted a rock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The helicopter departed from level terrain and then drifted backward. The aft right skid then contacted a rock that was embedded in the ground, which resulted in the helicopter pivoting around the rock, the rotor blades impacting the ground, and the helicopter rolling over onto its right side. Examination of wreckage revealed no anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A review of data from the vehicle engine multifunction display revealed that all of the recorded failures were associated with the ground impact and that no preimpact anomalies occurred. The evidence is consistent with a dynamic rollover event. ## Factual narrative On October 17, 2014, about 1245 mountain daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 helicopter, N852BP, rolled over on its right side during takeoff near Lordsburg, New Mexico. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to the United States Department of Homeland Security and operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a public use flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the CBP investigators, the helicopter departed from a level terrain area, drifted backward and the aft right skid contacted a rock, which was embedded in the ground and 10 inches of it was exposed. After contact, the helicopter hinged around a rock, the rotor blades impacted the ground and the helicopter rolled over to the right side. The fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. At 1256, the automated weather observation at the Bisbee Douglas International Airport, Douglas/Brisbee, Arizona, located 38 miles west of the accident site, reported: calm wind, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 79° Fahrenheit (F), dew point 39° F, and altimeter setting 30.08 inches of mercury. The CBP investigators examined the wreckage and determined that there were no anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Representatives from Airbus Helicopters downloaded and analyzed the data from the Vehicle Engine Multifunction Display (VEMD). All of the recorded failures were associated with the ground impact. The parameters associated with the failures and times of the failures did not indicate any preimpact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N852BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N852BP-2016-12-15), registration cancelled 2016-12-15, S/N 3592, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS AS 350 B3 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (registry code 8680954) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3592 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 6081 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2B 640 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use - Operator: US Customs and Border Protection - Registered owner: US Department Of Homeland Security - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 23, 2014 - Departed: DMN, DEMING, NM - Destination: DMN, DEMING, NM ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KDUG, 38 nm away ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 27, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90274. 11.1 MB in all. - Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120-1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120-1%20-Redacted.PDF - Airbus Helicopters VEMD Report (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425608&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airbus%20Helicopters%20VEMD%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Aerial View of Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of CBP) (item 3, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425609&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Aerial%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20CBP)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Close Aerial View of Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of CBP) (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Close%20Aerial%20View%20of%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20CBP)-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 313 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120-15 (item 6, .PDF, 377 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120-15-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.