# NTSB WPR14CA375: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, N197BH, Kahului, Maui, HI, September 14, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2014, 14:00 local (Sep 14, 2014, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Kahului, Maui, HI - Coordinates: 20.888334, -156.433609 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=20.8883&lon=-156.4336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90080 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90080/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90080 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA375 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the cart while hovering. Contributing to the accident was the failure of ground personnel to remove the cart from the helipad. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, a cart that housed an auxiliary power unit was positioned near the helicopter and used to start its engine. After engine start, ground personnel did not remove the cart from the helipad. The pilot reported that shortly after lift off to a hover, to perform track and balance checks, the tail rotor struck the forward portion of the cart. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and tail rotor. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, a cart that housed an auxiliary power unit was positioned near the helicopter and used to start it's engine. After engine start, ground personnel did not remove the cart from the helipad. The pilot reported that shortly after lift off to a hover, to perform track and balance checks, the tail rotor struck the forward portion of the cart. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and tail rotor. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N197BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N197BH), registered now, S/N 2666, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2 (B2) - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2666 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 21743 - Engines: Turbomeca 1D1 540 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Hawaii Helicopters Inc, doing business as Hawaii Helicopters Inc. - Registered owner: Nevada Helicopter Leasing LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 8, 2014 - Departed: OGG, Kahului, Maui, HI - Destination: OGG, Kahului, Maui, HI - Airport: OGG, Kahului ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 15, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 19,618 total, 11,343 in this make and model, 19,618 as pilot in command, 220 in the last 90 days, 77 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PHOG, 1 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 20140913019729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140913019729A), Sep 13, 2014: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Kahului, HI, Substantial damage. Personnel were conducting a series of maintenance flights to track and balance the main rotor. The pilot completed several flights and start ups before the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90080. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419305&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.