# NTSB GAA18CA107: Bell UH 1H, N205KS, Van Nuys, CA, January 12, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 12, 2018, 09:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Van Nuys, CA - Coordinates: 34.20972, -118.489723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2097&lon=-118.4897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96619 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96619/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96619 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA107 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a stationary helicopter during landing. Contributing to the accident was the ground crew’s failure to ensure that the helicopter would clear the stationary helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md) - [Communication (personnel): issuing instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew; cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538/cases.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/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); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell UH-1H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1181407), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while hovering the helicopter to park between three stationary helicopters, the ground crew gave him the signal for a 180° "pedal turn." As the helicopter was about to touch down, he felt a shudder in the airframe. He then immediately rolled the throttle closed and completed an emergency shutdown. Postaccident examination revealed that the tail rotor blades struck the main blades of a stationary helicopter, which likely caused the shudder felt by the pilot. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor and main rotor systems. 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 reported that, while hovering the helicopter to park between three stationary helicopters, he had been given the signal for a 180 degree "pedal turn" by the ground crew. As the helicopter was about to touchdown, he felt a shudder in the airframe, immediately rolled the throttle closed, and completed an emergency shutdown. A post-accident examination revealed that the tail rotor blades struck the main blades of a stationary helicopter. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor and main rotor systems. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N205KS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N205KS), registered now, S/N 9526 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL UH 1H (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bell UH-1H](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (registry code 1181407) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: SN67-17328 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 1933.6 - Engines: Honeywell T53-703 1800 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Public use - Operator: Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit, doing business as Rescue Operations in Montecito, CA - Registered owner: Usda Forest Service Fepp - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 27, 2017 - Departed: GOLF, Santa Barbara, CA - Destination: VNY, Van Nuys, CA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: VNY, Van Nuys - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review December 22, 2017; seat: right; flight hours: 426 total, 70 in this make and model, 287 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KVNY ## 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 20180112006529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180112006529A), Jan 12, 2018: Bell UH-1H, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. Airman was landing on a square helicopter landing zone at the rsi private ramp on the west side of Van Nuys airport. He was approaching facing west and thought… ## Other investigations on N205KS (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR10TA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10TA318), Jun 24, 2010: Bell UH-1H (N205KS), Santa Barbara, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of left tailboom upper attachment fitting as a result of fatigue. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96619. 103 KB in all. - Accident Photo (Courtesy of Operator) (item 1, .PDF, 1 photo, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.