# NTSB MIA02LA040: Eurocopter AS-350-BA, N6101U, Swanee, GA, November 16, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 16, 2001, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Swanee, GA
- Coordinates: 34.049549, -84.069908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0495&lon=-84.0699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53876/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA040

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper visual lookout while hovering the helicopter, which resulted in the helicopter's main rotor blades colliding with a light post.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, hover
  - visual lookout - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - pole

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was hovering the helicopter in front of a house, and the main rotor blades struck a driveway light post, removing the top ornament from the post.  According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter immediately and secured it, but the blades had incurred damage as a result of them having struck the post. The pilot stated that prior to the accident, there were no failures or malfunctions to any of the helicopter's systems.

## Factual narrative

On November 16, 2001, about 1600 eastern standard time, a Eurocopter AS-350-BA, N6101U, registered to, and operated by Williams Air Services Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 corporate flight, incurred damage to the main rotor blades in Swanee, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot and four passengers were not injured, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage.

The pilot stated that he was hovering the helicopter in front of a house, and the main rotor blades struck a driveway light post, removing the top ornament from the post.  According to the pilot, he landed the helicopter immediately and secured it, but the blades had incurred damage as a result of them having struck the post. The pilot stated that prior to the accident, there were no failures or malfunctions to any of the helicopter's systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6101U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6101U-2003-04-23), registration cancelled 2003-04-23, S/N 2802, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eurocopter AS-350-BA
- Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-ba) (registry code 8680955) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 2308
- Airframe hours: 629.6
- Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 1-B 641 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Williams Air Services Inc.,
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 30, 2000, 4.3 hours before
- Departed: Swanee, GA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 11, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 3,823 total, 557 in this make and model, 3,536 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: MCN

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.