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January 11, 2019 · Aerospatiale AS350 B2 · N346AE

Ponca City, OK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 11, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Ponca City, OK
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS350 B2 (1996)
Tail Number
N346AE
Operator
Air Evac Ems
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN19LA068

The pilot and an air ambulance crewmember were repositioning the helicopter due to incoming inclement weather. About halfway into the flight, the front windshields were fogging over, and the pilot increased the demister. Upon reaching the destination, the pilot hovered near the company hangar; by this time, the windshields had completely fogged over. The crewmember warned the pilot that he was getting close to the hangar, which was on the helicopter's left side. The pilot felt that he was high enough off the ground to move the helicopter several feet to the right, but the right skid was too low and contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom. Based on the available information, the dynamic rollover was a result of the pilot's failure to maintain altitude during the hover operation with a fogged-over windshield.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during the hover operation while his view was obstructed due to the fogged-over windshield.

Full Narrative

On January 11, 2019, about 1145 central standard time, an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 helicopter, N346AE, sustained substantial damage during a dynamic rollover during landing at the Ponca City Regional Airport (PNC), Ponca City, Oklahoma. The airline transport pilot and helicopter air ambulance crewmember were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Evac EMS, Inc. under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a positioning flight. Day instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from the Ponca City Hospital about 1141. The pilot was a repositioning the helicopter due to incoming inclement weather. The weather conditions at the time included light rain and a temperature of about 38° F. He contacted the company Operations Control Center (OCC) and he and the OCC staff agreed that the flight could be conducted within the company safety requirements. The flight was initiated and about halfway into the flight the front windshields were fogging over and the pilot increased the demister. Upon reaching the destination, the pilot hovered near the company hangar by which time the windshields had completely fogged over. The passenger warned the pilot that he was getting close to the hangar which was on the helicopter's left side. The pilot noted that he was looking out of the left chin bubble windshield while attempting to move the helicopter laterally to the right. He felt that he was high enough off the ground to move the helicopter several feet to the right, but the right skid was too low and contacted the ground resulting in a dynamic rollover. Examination of the helicopter revealed substantial damage to the rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:45 CST
Nearest AirportPonca City Regional Airport (0nm N)
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS350 B2
Tail NumberN346AE
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAir Evac Ems
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsHoneywell · LTS-101-700D · Turboshaft · 732
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 75 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 12 kt
Visibility4 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 900 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 36 C
Altimeter30.01 inHg
Observation Time17:42
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data