# NTSB GAA16CA450: Airbus AS350, N839PA, Peach Springs, AZ, August 24, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 24, 2016, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Peach Springs, AZ - Coordinates: 35.986667, -113.817497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9867&lon=-113.8175&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA, Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses, Airbus Helicopters (Advisor) - NTSB case key (mKey): 93895 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA450 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93895/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93895 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA450 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain while hover taxiing backward, resulting in the tail striking terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that as the helicopter was in a hover and backed off of the landing pad, the vertical stabilizer impacted rising terrain. The pilot further reported that he was able to land back on the landing pad 30 feet away with no further incident. A post examination of the helicopter revealed that the rear vertical stabilizer had received substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that as the helicopter was in a hover and backed off of the landing pad, the vertical stabilizer impacted rising terrain. The pilot further reported that he was able to land back on the landing pad 30 feet away with no further incident. A post examination of the helicopter revealed that the rear vertical stabilizer had received substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N839PA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS AS350 (B3) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7675 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 2903.8 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2d 951 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Papillon Airways Inc., doing business as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters - Registered owner: Monacrh Enterprises Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 11, 2016 - Departed: 1G4, Peach Springs, AZ - Destination: 1G4, Peach Springs, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 1G4, Grand Canyon West - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,268 total, 271 in this make and model, 2,164 as pilot in command, 221 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 10 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KIGM, 44 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). - [Incident 20160824017909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160824017909I), Aug 24, 2016: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3, Peach Springs, AZ, Minor damage. On August 24, 2016, at 1500MST, N839PA an Airbus helicopters AS-350B3 helicopter operated by papillon Grand Canyon helicopters incurred minor damage to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 11, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93895. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 892 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40445227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.