EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
Kahului, Maui, HI — September 14, 2014
Event Information
| Date | September 14, 2014 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR14CA375 |
| Event ID | 20140916X11037 |
| Location | Kahului, Maui, HI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 20.88833, -156.43361 |
| Airport | KAHULUI |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | EUROCOPTER |
| Model | AS 350 B2 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
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.
Full 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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.