# NTSB NYC07CA220: Eurocopter AS-350B2, N505RA, Greenville, SC, September 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 8, 2007, 15:50 local (19:50 UTC) - Place: Greenville, SC - Coordinates: 34.85361, -82.419723 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8536&lon=-82.4197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66624 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66624/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66624 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a settling with power condition and a subsequent hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - settling with power - encountered (cause) ## Analysis The AS-350B2 helicopter was refueled, and the pilot departed on a repositioning flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noticed that the key for the fuel tank cap was not in the cockpit, and he elected to make a precautionary landing to a soccer field, to check the fuel cap. During the landing approach, the helicopter began to settle, it subsequently landed hard, bounced, and rolled over. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and stated he thought the helicopter entered into a settling with power condition. ## Factual narrative The AS-350B2 helicopter was refueled, and the pilot departed on a repositioning flight. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot noticed that the key for the fuel tank cap was not in the cockpit, and he elected to make a precautionary landing to a soccer field, to check the fuel cap. During the landing approach, the helicopter began to settle, it subsequently landed hard, bounced, and rolled over. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions and stated he thought the helicopter entered into a settling with power condition. Calm winds were reported at an airport located about 4 miles east of the accident site, about the time of the accident; however, the pilot reported he experienced tailwind gusts during the approach. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N505RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505RA-2011-04-07), registration cancelled 2011-04-07, S/N 3800, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter AS-350B2 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (registry code 60053, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3800 - Airframe hours: 1513 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 531 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Omniflight Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: CFS Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 1, 2007 - Departed: GMU, Greenville, SC - Destination: 1GA3, Blairsville, GA - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: GMU, Greenville ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 6,400 total, 350 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: GMU, 4 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 20070908019259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070908019259A), Sep 8, 2007: Snias AS350B2, Greenville, SC, Substantial damage. (-23) During a precautionary landing from a steep approach to check the aircraft fuel cap at a soccer field approximately 5 miles west of the Greenville… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2007, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=66624. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 438 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40283635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Pilot and Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 257 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40283636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - KGMU Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40283637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KGMU%20Weather%20Observations-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.