# NTSB ERA09WA478: Agusta A109E, N906AH, Ras Tanajib, Saudi Arabia, August 22, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Foreign investigation
- Date: August 22, 2009, 05:06 local (05:06 UTC)
- Place: Ras Tanajib, Saudi Arabia
- Coordinates: 28.083333, 48.733333 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0833&lon=48.7333&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground resonance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74583
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09WA478
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74583/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09WA478

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground resonance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232) (defining event); cases with it: [Agusta A109E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232/sequence.md?model=0260101), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/232/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On August 22, 2009, at 0506 universal coordinated time, an Agusta 109E helicopter, N906AH, operated by Saudi Aramco Aviation, sustained substantial damage during landing and a post crash fire at barge Arabyia 4, in the Persian Gulf, near Ras Tanajib, Saudi Arabia. The pilot and 4 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Ras Tanajib Airport (OETN), at 0456. According to the operator, the helicopter touched down on the barge, the helicopter began to shake, the main rotor contacted the tail boom and cabin, and a fire ensued. During the accident sequence, the pilot was able to secure the engines and stop the main rotor with the rotor brake. The pilot and passengers exited the helicopter uninjured, and barge personnel extinguished the fire. The accident occurred in the vicinity of 28 degrees, 05 minutes north latitude, 048 degrees, 44 minutes east longitude. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) P.O. Box 887, Jeddah, 21165 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tel: 966-2685-5515 Fax: 966-2-685-5507 This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N906AH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N906AH-2010-03-31), registration cancelled 2010-03-31, S/N 11644, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA SPA A109E
- Registry model: [Agusta A109E](https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-a109e) (registry code 0260101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw206c) (registry code 52160, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 11644
- Airframe hours: 2439
- Engines: P&W CANADA PW206C 561 horsepower turbo shaft; P&W CANADA PW206C 561 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Non-U.S., commercial
- Operator: Aramco Associated Co
- Registered owner: Aramco Associated Co
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 15, 2009, 76 hours before
- Departed: OETN, Ras Tanajib
- Destination: Ras Tanajib
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 2,380 total, 600 in this make and model, 2,015 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg

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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