# NTSB SEA08CA027: Eurocopter France EC 130 B4, N810MH, Meadview, AZ, November 15, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 15, 2007, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place: Meadview, AZ
- Coordinates: 36.00056, -114.06903
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0006&lon=-114.0690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67091
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08CA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67091/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA027

## Probable cause

The downward flexing of the standing helicopter's main rotor blades and subsequent impact with its tail boom as a result of another helicopter's rotor blade's vortices.

.

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - rotor system,main rotor blade - blade strike (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had just landed and was in the process of shutting the engine down when another company helicopter landed at his 2 o'clock position about 40 to 50 feet away.  The vortices created by the second helicopter's main rotor blades caused the main rotor blades of the standing helicopter to flex downward before impacting its tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the standing helicopter.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he had just landed and was in the process of shutting the engine down when another company helicopter landed at his 2 o'clock position about 40 to 50 feet away.  The vortices created by the second helicopter's main rotor blades caused the main rotor blades of the standing helicopter to flex downward before impacting its tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the standing helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N810MH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N810MH), registered now, S/N 3949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Eurocopter France EC 130 B4
- Registry model: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (registry code 8680989) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 3949
- Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Maverick Helicopters, Inc.
- Registered owner: Maverick Helicopters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LAS, Las Vegas, NV
- Destination: Meadview, AZ
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: NONE, Meadview Airstrip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,856 total, 1,231 in this make and model, 217 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: LAS, 47 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 20071115828129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071115828129A), Nov 15, 2007: Urocop EC130B4, Meadview, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Helicopter N810MH piloted by [privacy data omitted] landed on the south side of the fuel tank facing north with a total of five helicopters already…

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.

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