EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B2
Las Vegas, NV — December 8, 2011
Event Information
| Date | December 8, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | DCA12MA020 |
| Event ID | 20111208X52528 |
| Location | Las Vegas, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 36.16960, -115.11904 |
| Airport | Las Vegas McCarren |
| Highest Injury | FATL |
Aircraft
| Make | EUROCOPTER FRANCE |
| Model | AS350B2 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | DEST |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DUSK |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 5 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 5 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
Sundance Helicopters’ inadequate maintenance of the helicopter, including (1) the improper reuse of a degraded self-locking nut, (2) the improper or lack of installation of a split pin, and (3) inadequate postmaintenance inspections, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the servo control input rod from the fore/aft servo and rendered the helicopter uncontrollable. Contributing to the improper or lack of installation of the split pin was the mechanic’s fatigue and the lack of clearly delineated maintenance task steps to follow. Contributing to the inadequate postmaintenance inspection was the inspector’s fatigue and the lack of clearly delineated inspection steps to follow.
Full Narrative
The Safety Board’s full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/reports_aviation.html. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-13/01.
On December 7, 2011, about 1630 Pacific standard time, a Sundance Helicopters, Inc., Eurocopter AS350-B2 helicopter, N37SH, operating as a “Twilight tour” sightseeing trip, crashed in mountainous terrain about 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. The pilot and four passengers were killed, and the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and postimpact fire. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Sundance as a scheduled air tour flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions with good visibility and dusk light prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight operated under visual flight rules. The helicopter originated from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, about 1621 with an intended route of flight to the Hoover Dam area and return to the airport. The helicopter was not equipped, and was not required to be equipped, with any on board recording devices.
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.