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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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December 8, 2011 · Eurocopter France AS350B2 · N37SH

Las Vegas, NV

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 8, 2011
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Aircraft
Eurocopter France AS350B2
Tail Number
N37SH
Operator
Sundance Helicopters
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA12MA020

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.

NTSB 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:30 PST
Nearest AirportLas Vegas Mccarren (14nm)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftEurocopter France AS350B2
Tail NumberN37SH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorSundance Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ARRIEL 1SER · Turboshaft · 681
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind200° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 10 C
Altimeter30.13 inHg
Observation Time23:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data