- Date
- August 18, 2001, 14:25 local (21:25 UTC)
- Place
- Vinton, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N53LHAerospatiale AS 355F1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flt Stnds Dist Office
- FAA report
- 20010818022649A
- Case key
- 53058
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which caused "brown-out" conditions during departure liftoff and resulted in loss of control of the helicopter.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot of the med-vac helicopter reported that, during liftoff at the remote site, he encountered a loss of visual reference due to a "brown out" condition created by blowing dust at 3 feet agl. He then attempted to land the helicopter without any visual reference; however, the right skid contacted the ground first. A rolling motion to the left was created and, after the left skid contacted the ground, a dynamic rollover ensued. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Factual narrative
On August 18, 2001, at 1425 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS 355F1 helicopter, N53LH, rolled onto its side and came to rest during takeoff at a remote location, 4 miles east of Vinton, California. The commercial certificated pilot, two flight nurses, and one patient were not injured. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The on-demand, air taxi, medical transport flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 135, by Rocky Mountain Holdings, LLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for Reno, Nevada.
According to the operator, the pilot reported that, during liftoff, he encountered a loss of visual reference due to a "brown out" condition at 3 feet above ground level. He attempted to land the helicopter without any visual reference; however, the right skid contacted the ground first. A rolling motion to the left was created and, after the left skid contacted the ground, a dynamic rollover ensued. The helicopter came to rest on its left side.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53LH
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale AS 355F1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 5093
- Airframe hours
- 7,374
- Engine
- Allison 250-C20F, 420 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Rocky Mountain Holdings, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · July 10, 2001 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- Vinton, CA
- Destination
- Reno, NV
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,750 total · 275 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 18,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- RNO, 22 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 453 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.