EUROCOPTER EC130
Las Vegas, NV — February 26, 2017
Event Information
| Date | February 26, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA167 |
| Event ID | 20170301X00432 |
| Location | Las Vegas, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 36.08000, -115.15222 |
| Airport | MC CARRAN INTL |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | EUROCOPTER |
| Model | EC130 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 3 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's abrupt cyclic/pitch attitude control movement, which resulted in a Fenestron ground strike.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the helicopter reported that during the hover taxi for departure in the ramp area, he was monitoring another helicopter that had just departed and then "brought [his] eyes inside [the helicopter]" to switch a radio frequency. As the pilot looked back outside, he observed "the nose of a big plane taxiing" from behind another parked airplane to his left. Subsequently, the pilot abruptly applied aft cyclic to stop the helicopter's forward momentum and the Fenestron struck the ramp. The pilot returned to the ramp area without further incident.
The Fenestron sustained substantial damage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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.