# NTSB GAA17CA404: Eurocopter AS 350, N357PJ, King Vale, CA, July 11, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2017, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: King Vale, CA - Coordinates: 39.305278, -120.434448 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3053&lon=-120.4344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 6 minor - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA404 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95551/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95551 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA404 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees while landing in a dusty, unimproved landing zone. ## 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: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the landing on the unimproved dirt parking lot, dust started to kick up, and he transitioned to looking through the "chin bubble" for a visual point of reference. When the helicopter was about 5 to 6 ft above the ground, the pilot felt a sudden impact, followed by subsequent impacts from the two additional rotor blades impacting what was later found to be a tree. The helicopter "violently" fell to the ground and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the landing on the unimproved dirt parking lot, dust started to kick up, and he transitioned to looking through the "chin bubble" for a visual point of reference. When the helicopter was about 5 to 6ft. above the ground, the pilot felt a sudden impact, followed by subsequent impacts from the two additional rotor blades impacting what later was found to be a tree. The helicopter "violently" fell to the ground and rolled onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N357PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N357PJ-2019-01-17), registration cancelled 2019-01-17, S/N 3608, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 (B3) - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (registry code 8680954) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b) (registry code 60037, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3608 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 1936.6 - Engines: Safran (Turbomeca) 2B 847 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 24, 2017 - Departed: Soda Springs, CA - Destination: King Vale, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,631 total, 1,248 in this make and model, 3,599 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KBLU, 13 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 20170711016549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170711016549A), Jul 11, 2017: Airbus AS-350, King Vale, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft transporting pg&e employees as well as federal government inspector to evaluate local resivior dams with recent snow melt as a hydroelectric service.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95551. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 814 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 673 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.