# NTSB DEN01LA145: Eurocopter AS350 B-2, Cody, WY, August 12, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 12, 2001, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Cody, WY
- Coordinates: 44.615276, -109.115554
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6153&lon=-109.1156&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA--  Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53006/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA145

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning for an off site landing, which resulted in failure of the tail rotor drive shaft due to entanglement of his long-line in the drive shaft.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, descent - normal
  - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - external load cable/hook - entangled (cause)
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing
  - object - other

## Analysis

The pilot was performing an off-site landing with a long-line.  The line became entangled in brush, and subsequenmtly, the line became entangled in the tail rotor drive shaft.  The tail rotor drive shaft failed, and the pilot performed an autorotation impacting equipment on the ground.  During the landing sequence, the tail boom and horizontal stabilizer were bent, and the bottom of the helicopter's fuselage was penetrated.

## Factual narrative

On August 12, 2001, at 1430 mountain daylight time, a Eurocopter AS350 B-2 helicopter, Canadian registration C-FBTW, was substantially damaged when its long-line became entangled in its tail rotor during landing near Cody, Wyoming.  The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the aircraft, was not injured.  Turbowest Helicopters Ltd. of Calgary, Canada, was operating the helicopter under Title 14 CFR Part 133.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local long-line flight which originated approximately 25 minutes before the accident.  The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said that he was retrieving geophysical seismic bags, and attempted to land beside a bag of equipment.  The area was flat, open, brush-covered terrain.  During a "high hover," the long line became entangled in a mesquite bush.  As the pilot moved forward and down, the line became taut.  Approximately 20 feet above the ground, the line became entangled in the tail rotor drive shaft, breaking the control rods and the tail rotor drive shaft.  The aircraft rotated to the left, and the pilot retarded the throttle and executed an engine out landing.  Upon touchdown, the equipment on the ground punctured the bottom of the helicopter's fuselage breaking a fuel line, and spilling 40 gallons of fuel.  There was no fire.  The aircraft's tail boom was bent, the horizontal stabilizer was damaged, and the tail rotor drive shaft was broken.

## Aircraft

- Registration: C-FBTW (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Eurocopter AS350 B-2
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3289
- Airframe hours: 558.9
- Engines: Turbomeca Aerial 1D1 732 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 133
- Registered owner: Turbowest Helicopters Ltd.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 2001, 8.2 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Cody, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 19, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 11,061 total, 1,601 in this make and model, 10,500 as pilot in command, 78 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observed at: COD

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.

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