# NTSB CHI97LA140: Aerospatiale AS-365-N2, N653CN, Indianapolis, IN, May 21, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1997, 07:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Indianapolis, IN - Coordinates: 39.730285, -86.29013 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7303&lon=-86.2901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10572/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA140 ## Probable cause inadequate visual clearance by the passenger resulting in his being struck with the rotor blade. A factor relating to this accident was the gusting winds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) not operating - visual lookout - inadequate, passenger (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was delivering the passenger and his associate to their company's corporate ramp. 'I landed, taxied in, shut down the engines, and had applied the rotor brake. My passengers were deplaning from the right side of the helicopter with the help of line personnel.' The passenger 'walked forward of the helicopter and turned left into the tip path plane of the rotor system. The passenger was struck in the left temple by a main rotor blade.' The condition of the ramp was good. The static flex clearance of the helicopter blade was determined to decrease at increased wind velocities. The surface winds at 0756 est were reported as 040 at 14 gusting to 21 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 1997, at 0755 eastern standard time (est), a single passenger was fatally injured by a main rotor blade while deplaning an Aerospatiale, AS-365-N2, Dauphin helicopter, N653CN, operated by a commercial pilot, during post-flight, shutdown procedures. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The executive/corporate flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. A flight plan was not on file. There were no injuries to the pilot on board, or the crewmember and other passenger who had also deplaned. The flight originated at Carmel, Indiana, at 0744 est. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was delivering the passenger and his associate to their company's corporate ramp at the Indianapolis International Airport, Indianapolis, Indiana. There the passenger and his associate were to transfer to one of the company's corporate jets. "I landed, taxied in, shut down the engines, and had applied the rotor brake. My passengers were deplaning from the right side of the helicopter with the help of line personnel." The passenger "walked forward of the helicopter and turned left into the tip path plane of the rotor system. The passenger was struck in the left temple by a main rotor blade." The pilot of the corporate jet waiting to receive the passenger and his associate observed the passenger "walk straight ahead towards the front of the helicopter and then turn towards the hanger," which was on the opposite side of the helicopter. "A rotor blade struck the passenger at the approximate tip position of the rotor pattern. The passenger was walking in a casual manner and did not appear to be in a hurry." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the helicopter at the scene found no anomalies with the helicopter's flight controls, engines, engine controls, transmission or rotor system. Examination of the helicopter's landing gear to include tire inflation and proper strut extension revealed no anomalies. The condition of the ramp was good. The FAA inspector examined the height clearance of the rotor blades under static conditions. The 6-foot, 4-inch tall inspector stated that the blade cleared the top of his head by approximately 12 inches. However, when the wind velocity increased, the blade flexed to within approximately 8 inches of his head. The passenger was reported to be 6-feet, 4 and 1/2 inches tall. The flight observer on the helicopter stated that the winds at touchdown were reported as 030 degrees at 9 knots. The company's Vice President of Aviation stated that the helicopter was oriented on a 040-degree heading at the time of the accident. The National Weather Service at Indianapolis International Airport, Indiana, at 0756 est reported surface winds 040 at 14 gusting to 21 knots. Representatives for American Eurocopter Corporation stated that determining how low the helicopter's blades will flap is a function of the flexibility of the carbon fiber blades, the starflex composite rotor and it's components, and is difficult to determine while the helicopter is operating. "Added to this will be rotor rpm and wind direction, velocity and gust." However, under static conditions, flexing of the blade tips to within 6 feet of the ground is possible without causing damage to the blades, the rotor or the rotor components. ## Aircraft - Registration: N653CN (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale AS-365-N2 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6404 - Airframe hours: 1222 - Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1C2 turbo shaft - Damage: No damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Conseco Inc. - Registered owner: General Electric Capital Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1997, 72 hours before - Departed: CARMEL, IN - Destination: IND - Airport: IND, Indianapolis Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 17,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IND, 1 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 19970521011629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521011629A), May 21, 1997: Aerosp AS365N2, Indianapolis, IN, 1 fatal. Helicopter landed on ramp and passenger was struck by rotating main rotor blade. (.4)the pilot said that he was delivering the passenger and his associate to… 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.