# NTSB FTW04LA133: Bell 412, N555BA, San Antonio, TX, May 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 23, 2004, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.432777, -98.492225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4328&lon=-98.4922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked helicopter while performing a hovering turn. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - hovering turn - performed, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing - Hard landing, descent - emergency ## Analysis Prior to takeoff, the helicopter was parked facing the northwest. While in a hover and executing a right pedal turn to align into the wind, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a parked helicopter's main rotor blade. The airborne helicopter entered into right yaw, and the pilot reduced collective and throttles. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard onto the helipad. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 170 degrees at 14 knots. ## Factual narrative On May 23, 2004, approximately 1605 central daylight time, a Bell 412 twin-engine helicopter, N555BA, sustained substantial damage when its tail rotor struck a parked helicopter while hovering prior to takeoff from the University Hospital helipad, near San Antonio, Texas. The commercial pilot, the flight nurse, and flight paramedic were not injured. The helicopter was registered to Bexar County Hospital District, San Antonio, Texas, and operated by Air Methods Corp., Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The flight was departing at the time of the accident and was destined for New Braunfels, Texas. According to a statement from the pilot, prior to takeoff, the helicopter was facing the northwest. While in a hover and executing a right pedal turn to align into the wind, the helicopter's tail rotor struck another helicopter that was parked on the helipad. The airborne helicopter entered into right yaw, and the pilot reduced collective and throttles. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard onto the helipad. In addition, the pilot reported having accumulated a total of approximately 4,640 total rotorcraft flight hours, with 877 in the accident aircraft make and model. Examination of the helicopter revealed the tail rotor drive shaft was separated, the tail rotor blades were damaged, and the landing gear skids were deformed. The parked helicopter sustained damaged to a main rotor blade, and another parked helicopter was damaged by debris. The concrete helipad measured 90 feet in length and 90 feet in width. At 1553, the San Antonio International Airport automated surface observing system (ASOS), located approximately 6 nautical miles north of the accident site, reported the wind from 170 degrees at 14 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, sky broken at 4,000 feet above ground level, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.86 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555BA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555BA-2007-04-11), registration cancelled 2007-04-11, S/N 36015, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 412 - Registry model: [Bell 412](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-412) (registry code 1182202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6t-3-series) (registry code 52103, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 36015 - Airframe hours: 11663 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3BE 1800 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Air Methods Corp. - Registered owner: Bexar County Hospital District - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, May 21, 2004, 11,646 hours before - Departed: 09XS, San Antonio, TX - Destination: BAZ, New Braunfels, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 09XS, Baptist Medical Center ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 13, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 4,640 total, 877 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 6 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 20040523013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040523013099A), May 23, 2004: Bell 412, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 23, 2004, at approximately 1605 CDT, a Bell 412 helicopter, N555BA, sustained substantial damage when its tail rotor struck a parked helicopter… 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.