- Date
- August 2, 2008, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place
- Mount Clemens, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N204TUEurocopter AS-350-B3
- Defining event
- Landing: Hard landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 6, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Detroit FSDO
- Case key
- 68618
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's unintentional lowering of the collective control during approach to land, resulting in a hard landing.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The operator reported that the helicopter had landed on the landing platform when, after shutdown, it was discovered that the helicopter was positioned too far aft on the platform. The pilot then restarted the helicopter and lifted off to reposition the helicopter on the platform. During this second approach to the platform, the pilot removed his hand from the collective control to turn off an audio radio. When the pilot returned his hand to the collective, he inadvertently lowered the collective and the helicopter descended and struck the ground.
Factual narrative
On August 2, 2008, about 1735 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter AS-350-B3, N204TU, operated by the United States Customs and Border Protection as a public use flight was substantially damaged during a hard landing to a platform at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Mount Clemons, Michigan. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan. No injuries were reported. The flight originated at 1643 from the Saint Clair County International Airport, Port Huron, Michigan. A report submitted by the operator stated that the helicpoter returned from a flight and was landed on a landing platform. After shutdown, it was discovered that the helicopter was positioned too far aft on the platform. The pilot then restarted the helicopter and lifted off to reposition the helicopter on the platform. During this second approach to the platform, the pilot removed his hand from the collective control to turn off an audio radio. When the pilot returned his hand to the collective, he inadvertently lowered the collective and the helicopter descended and struck the ground.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N204TU
- Reported as
- Eurocopter AS-350-B3
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 4413
- Airframe hours
- 95
- Engine
- Turbomeca Aerial 2B1, 747 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft - federal · Public use
- Operator
- US Customs and Border Protection
- Registered owner
- Dept. of Homeland Security
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 2008
- Departed
- PHN · Port Huron, MI
- Destination
- MTC · Mount Clemens, MI
- Airport
- MTC · Selfridge Air National Guard B
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 28, 2008
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,549 total · 62 in this make and model · 1,957 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- MTC