# NTSB WPR22LA154: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, N808LF, Deer Valley, AZ, April 17, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 16, 2022, 22:26 local (Apr 17, 2022, 05:26 UTC) - Place: Deer Valley, AZ - Coordinates: 33.411331, -112.04447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4113&lon=-112.0445&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA154 ## Probable cause The fuelers improper action during the refueling process. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft servicing event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/020/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter reported that, he was on the ramp with the engine running to accomplish a rapid refuel. The fueler was attempting to attach the grounding cable to the helicopter and due to the cable not locking, he maneuvered the cable up and down, which then contacted the main rotor blades. The pilot reported he felt a “violent jolt” and immediately shut the engine down. The fueler’s hands were seriously injured. The main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N808LF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808LF), registered now, S/N 4983, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 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: 4983 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 3931 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 747 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Air Methods Corp, doing business as Medical Evacuation Air Taxi - Registered owner: Air Methods Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 14, 2022, 14 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: DVT, Deer Valley - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, ADS-B, Video recording device, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,172.4 total, 445.1 in this make and model, 7,114 as pilot in command, 31.1 in the last 90 days, 10.8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KDVT METAR ## 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 20220416002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220416002309A), Apr 16, 2022: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Phoenix, AZ, Minor damage. N808 landed at the city helo pad and requested a hot refuel. The crew of the helicopter acted in accordance with the company procedures listed in the general… ## Other investigations on N808LF (2) 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. - [NTSB CEN14IA329](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14IA329), Jun 26, 2014: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N808LF), Temple, TX, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to reposition the yaw servo hydraulic switch to the “on” position during the pretakeoff hydraulic system check, which resulted in a complete lack of hydraulic boost to the tail… - [NTSB WPR11LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA352), Jul 27, 2011: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N808LF), Troutdale, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight separation of the tail rotor drive shaft cover as a result of maintenance personnel not ensuring that it was secured after a maintenance inspection; also causal was the pilot’s… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104956. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14383530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA154%20Pilot%20report%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Crew statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14457908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Crew%20Statements_redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14458292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA154%20Deer%20Valley,%20AZ%20Photos-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.