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NTSB Report

December 25, 2012 · Bell 407 NO Series · N489AE

Mcallen, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 25, 2012
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Mcallen, TX
Aircraft
Bell 407 NO Series
Tail Number
N489AE
Operator
Air Evac Ems
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN13CA114

The accident occurred as the air medical flight was departing a hospital heliport en route to pick up a patient. Another helicopter was parked off to the side of the helipad but within the fenced helipad area. Before boarding the departing helicopter, the pilot turned the main rotor blades on the parked helicopter to give him more room to maneuver on takeoff. During takeoff, the pilot was turning the helicopter into the wind and talking to an air traffic controller when he backed the helicopter into the main rotor blades of the parked helicopter. The pilot rolled the throttle to idle and conducted a hover autorotation back onto the helipad. The pilot later reported that he knew the parked helicopter was there but had forgotten about it. The accident helicopter sustained substantial damage to both tail rotor blades and one of the main rotor blades. The pilot was unable to hear the medical crew's warnings over the intercom because the microphone was keyed for the conversation with the air traffic controller. The operator’s general operations manual provides minimum clearance guidelines that state, in part, that minimum clearances for all helicopters will be at least 1/3 of the rotor diameter between the outboard tip of the rotor disc and any obstruction and at a distance great enough not to create a hazard to persons or property on the ground in non-secured areas. These guidelines were most likely met before the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Aircraft-Effect on equipment

Full Narrative

The accident occurred as the air medical flight was departing a hospital heliport en route to pick up a patient. In addition to the accident helicopter on the helipad, there was another helicopter parked off to the side of the helipad, but within the fenced helipad area. Prior to boarding the helicopter, the pilot turned the main rotor blades on the parked helicopter to give him more room to maneuver on takeoff. During the takeoff the pilot lifted the helicopter into a hover, and was turning it into the wind and talking to air traffic control (ATC), when he backed the helicopter into the main rotor blades of the parked helicopter. The pilot rolled the throttle to idle and conducted a hover autorotation back onto the helipad. The pilot reported that he knew the parked helicopter was there, but had forgotten about it. The medical crew in the back of the helicopter attempted to verbally alert the pilot through the intercom that he was too close to the parked helicopter; however, the pilot was unable to hear the warning because his microphone was keyed for the conversation with ATC. The accident helicopter received substantial damage to both tail rotor blades and one of the main rotor blades. The operator reported there was no failure/malfunction of the helicopter. The operator’s General Operations Manual states, "Minimum clearances for all helicopters will be at least 1/3 of the rotor diameter between the rotor blade tips on rotor discs of operating aircraft, between the outboard tip of the rotor disc and any obstruction, and at a distance great enough not to create a hazard to persons or property on the ground in non-secured areas. Additional vigilance must be observed when landing in close proximity to another aircraft especially at a hospital helipad or during scene operations."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:49 CST
Nearest AirportMcallen Medical Center Heli (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell 407 NO Series
Tail NumberN489AE
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Evac Ems
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls Royce · 250-C47B · Turboshaft · 674
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 27 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind150° @ 15 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.89 inHg
Observation Time23:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data