# NTSB LAX01LA061: Aerospatiale AS-350-BA, N355NT, Henderson, NV, December 7, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 2000, 10:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 36.039665, -114.929412 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0397&lon=-114.9294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FLT STANDARDS DIST OFC - NTSB case key (mKey): 50815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50815/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA061 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his practice approach into a remote pinnacle landing site, dragging a skid across a rock resulting in a hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - maneuver - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was an FAA monitored 14 CFR Part 135 check ride of a company pilot by the company check airman. According to the FAA inspector, who was onboard and monitor the check ride, while performing a pinnacle approach procedure into an unimproved site, the right front portion of the helicopter's skid collided with a large rock. This occurred with some forward speed. The resultant hard landing caused substantial buckling of the tailboom assembly, which was discovered after returning to the base of operation. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 2000, about 1015 Pacific standard time, an Aerospatiale AS-350-BA helicopter, N355NT, was substantially damaged during a collision with a rock and a hard landing from a pinnacle approach near Henderson, Nevada. Neither the commercial pilot, airline transport rated company check pilot, nor the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Las Vegas, Nevada, about 1005. The purpose of the flight was an FAA monitored 14 CFR Part 135 check ride of a company pilot by the company check airman. According to the FAA inspector who was onboard and monitoring the check ride, while performing a pinnacle approach procedure into an unimproved site, the right front portion of the helicopter's skid collided with a large rock. This occurred with some forward speed. The resultant hard landing caused substantial buckling of the tailboom assembly. The operator did not file a Pilot/Operator Accident Report, NTSB form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N355NT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N355NT-2018-01-18), registration cancelled 2018-01-18, S/N 2053 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale AS-350-BA - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (registry code 8680817) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2053 - Airframe hours: 6045 - Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B 590 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jan Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: OL7, JEAN, NV - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,500 total, 4,014 in this make and model, 140 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 20001207021529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001207021529A), Dec 7, 2000: Snias AS350BA, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing a pinnacle approach procedure into an unimproved site, the right front portion of the helicopters skid collided with a large rock. This… ## Other investigations on N355NT (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 SEA05MA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05MA199), Sep 24, 2005: Aerospatiale AS350BA (N355NT), Haena, HI, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue flight into adverse weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of control due to an encounter with a microburst. Contributing to the accident was inadequate Federal… 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.