Summary
On February 25, 2012, a Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N118MB) was involved in an incident near Poway, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
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.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR12CA118. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N118MB.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a hard landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
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.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR12CA118