# NTSB WPR14LA272: Aerospatiale AS350B2, N350CR, Dietrich, ID, June 29, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2014, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Dietrich, ID - Coordinates: 42.900001, -114.25 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9000&lon=-114.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 3 serious - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Honeywell - NTSB case key (mKey): 89560 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA272 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89560/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89560 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA272 ## Probable cause The pilot’s sudden incapacitation from a previously undiagnosed medical condition while in cruise flight, which resulted in his inability to maintain helicopter control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: cardiovascular](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md?model=8680877), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012050/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=8680877), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680877), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350B2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=8680877), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to position the helicopter and its installed camera equipment to the staging area of an intended aerial videography project. He added that the prestart, run-up, and hover checks were uneventful. While proceeding to the staging area, he climbed the helicopter to between about 800 and 1,000 ft above ground level. Shortly thereafter, the pilot lost consciousness, and his next recollection was waking up in an intensive care unit. After the pilot lost consciousness, the front seat passenger attempted to control the helicopter using the cyclic; however, the helicopter eventually collided with terrain. According to medical records regarding the pilot's postaccident hospital treatment, the pilot suffered a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness (known as a syncopal episode) while he was operating the helicopter. Postaccident medical evaluation led to a diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome, a heart condition, which likely caused the pilot's loss of consciousness and his subsequent inability to maintain helicopter control. ## Factual narrative The helicopter was an Airbus Helicopters, Inc., AS350B2, serial number 2328. The operator reported that the helicopter had a total airframe time of 8,887 hours at the time of the accident. It had a 100-hour inspection on April 11, 2014. The engine was a Honeywell LTS 101-700D-2, serial number LE-46019C. The pilot reported that the total time on the engine was 6,518 hours, and time since major overhaul was 904 hours. On June 29, 2014, about 1730 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS350B2, N350CR, collided with terrain near Dietrich, Idaho. Reeder Flying Service was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. The commercial pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The cross-country aerial photography flight departed Twin Falls, Idaho, about 1630, with a planned destination of Rexburg, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. Witnesses reported that the helicopter was traveling in a northeasterly direction when they observed it make a sudden 180-degree reversal to the southwest, followed by a rapid tail-first descent into the ground. The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to position the helicopter and its installed camera equipment to a staging area of an intended aerial videography project. One passenger was in the front left seat to operate the camera, and the other was behind the pilot in the right rear outboard seat. According to the pilot, prestart, run-up, and hover checks were uneventful. He flew to a scenic waterfall, and flew two orbits to test the camera equipment and its imaging. He then notified his maintenance department that he was preceding to the staging area. He climbed the helicopter to 800-1,000 ft agl; shortly thereafter the pilot lost consciousness. His next recollection was waking up in an intensive care unit at a hospital. After the pilot lost consciousness, the front seat passenger attempted to control the helicopter using the cyclic; however, the helicopter eventually collided with terrain. The National Transportation Safety Board's medical officer reviewed the pilot's airman medical file, personal, and hospital medical records and prepared a factual report that is contained in the public docket for this accident. In summary, the pilot had a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The pilot had gastroenteritis the night prior to the accident, and symptoms had reportedly been resolved following treatment with bismuth subsalicylate. The following morning, he reported that he felt that he was well enough to fly. According to postaccident medical records from the pilot's hospital treatment, the pilot suffered a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness (known as a syncopal episode) while controlling the helicopter. Postaccident medical evaluation led to a diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome, a group of heartrhythm disorders that include slow heart rhythm (bradycardia) or periods when the heart pauses for an excessive interval sometimes accompanied by fatigue, confusion or syncope. The condition was treated with an implanted pacemaker the day following the accident. The 57-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, helicopter, and instrument. The pilot held a flight instructor (CFI) certificate with ratings for helicopter and instrument helicopter. The pilot held a second-class medical certificate issued on March 24, 2014, with no limitations or waivers. The pilot reported that he had a total flight time of 7,405 hours with 2,683 hours in this make and model. He logged 88 hours in the previous 90 days, and 39 in the previous 30 days. He completed a flight review on April 10, 2014. Wreckage Examination Investigators from the NTSB, Airbus Helicopters, and Honeywell examined the wreckage at Air Transport, Phoenix, Arizona, on July 15, 2014. A complete report of the examination is in the public docket for this accident. The examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Video Study The passengers were filming the flight. A review of the video indicated that the pilot slumped forward in his seat; his body movements were limp and flaccid. The passenger in the front left seat appeared to reach his right hand in front of the pilot near the area of the cyclic. The passenger in the rear seat appeared to reach forward, and try to pull the pilot's upper torso toward the back of the seat. The helicopter then fell forward into the ground. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N350CR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350CR-2018-11-27), registration cancelled 2018-11-27, S/N 2328 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350B2 (BA) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b2) (registry code 8680877) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (registry code 60053, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2328 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 8887 - Engines: Honeywell LTS 101-700D- 732 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Reeder Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Reeder Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 11, 2014 - Departed: TWF, Twin Falls, ID - Destination: RXE, Rexburg, ID - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,405 total, 2,682 in this make and model, 7,280 as pilot in command, 88 in the last 90 days, 39 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 19 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KJER ## 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 20140629010219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140629010219A), Jun 29, 2014: Aerospatiale AS350B2, Dietrich, ID, Destroyed. Helicopter departed the twin falls, Idaho airport (twf) at approximately 1640 local time with the pilot and two passengers for a photo fight near rexburg,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89560. 2.7 MB in all. - On Board Image Recorder Factual Report (item 1, .PDF, 2 photos, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=On%20Board%20Image%20Recorder%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - NTSB Medical Officer Factual Report (item 2, .PDF, 274 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Medical%20Officer%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 324 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Airframe & Engine Examination (item 4, .PDF, 12 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Airframe%20%26%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40442254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-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.