EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
Poway, CA — February 25, 2012
Event Information
| Date | February 25, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR12CA118 |
| Event ID | 20120226X05751 |
| Location | Poway, CA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.93389, -116.99695 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | EUROCOPTER |
| Model | AS 350 B3 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Full Narrative
The pilot stated that he was approaching a landing zone on a flat pinnacle with a tailwind. The helicopter was in a slow, stable, shallow approach when it encountered an updraft within 50 feet of the landing area. When the helicopter flew out of the updraft, it abruptly descended to the ground. The helicopter contacted the ground in a flat orientation, and the impact buckled the tail boom and sheared the left landing gear skid off.
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.