# NTSB WPR21LA027: American Eurocopter AS350B3, N530H, Silver City, NM, October 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 26, 2020, 23:37 local (Oct 27, 2020, 05:37 UTC) - Place: Silver City, NM - Coordinates: 32.769381, -108.21173 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7694&lon=-108.2117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102200/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102200 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA027 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude above terrain while operating in reduced visibility due to snow showers. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: snow](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to relocate the helicopter to a hangar at a nearby airport before a winter storm impacted the area. The pilot took off in moderate visual meteorological conditions and moderate rain; but as the helicopter neared the airport, the precipitation turned from rain to snow. The pilot turned final about 1 mile north of the airport when the precipitation increased, and the visibility reduced. The helicopter impacted terrain about 200 yards north of the runway surface in a mostly level attitude before it rolled onto its left side. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N530H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N530H), registered now, S/N 4553, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER AS350B3 - Registry model: [American Eurocopter AS350B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-eurocopter-as350b3) (registry code 1145002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4553 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 7706 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 847 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Air Methods Corp - Registered owner: Air Methods Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 26, 2020, 175 hours before - Departed: NM85, Silver City, NM - Destination: 94E, Silver City, NM - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 94E, Whiskey Creek Airport, runway 17, 5,400 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,200 total, 1,956 in this make and model, 4,100 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 110° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: SVC, 8 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 20201026022149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201026022149A), Oct 26, 2020: American Eurocopter LLC AS350B3, Silver City, NM, Substantial damage. On October 26, 2020, at 2337 MDT, a Eurocopter AS-350, N530H, [privacy data omitted], lost visual ground references on its approach to Whiskey Creek Airport,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102200. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 8.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11640113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - On scene photos - courtesy of local law enforcement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11640502&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=on%20scnee%20photos%20from%20leo-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.