# NTSB WPR22LA018: Airbus A350, N544AM, Tucson, AZ, October 16, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 16, 2021, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.251697, -110.87932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2517&lon=-110.8793&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Scottsdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104137 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104137/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104137 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from ground equipment during landing. ## 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 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that, during the landing for the air medical helicopter flight, the tail rotor blades collided with a large fire extinguisher that was located on the approach path and abeam a perimeter fence. The helicopter subsequently landed without further incident. The tailboom and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N544AM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N544AM), registered now, S/N 4206, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A350 (B3) - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (registry code 8680954) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4206 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 7571 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 747 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 135 - Operator: Air Meathods Corp - Registered owner: Air Meathods Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 12, 2021, 0.5 hours before - Departed: N/A, Nogales, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: AZ37, Tucson Medical Center, runway H1, 100 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,188 total, 161 in this make and model, 2,336 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: right; restraint: 4-point - Cabin crew; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KDMA, 5 nm away - METAR: KDMA 161958Z AUTO 13016KT 10SM CLR 30/M01 A3004 RMK AO2 SLP136 T02991015 $ ## 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 20211016019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211016019809A), Oct 16, 2021: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. During landing to an elevated hospital helipad, the helicopter's tail rotor contacted the handle of a large fire extinguisher located on the helipad. The tail… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 21, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104137. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 14 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12861909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array-courtesy of the helicopter operator (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13001601&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Operator-Rel.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.