Aerospatiale AS350B N32GA

Summary

On 1 February 1999 at about 17:10 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N32GA, operated by Silverado Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an incident near Grand Canyon Pk, Arizona, United States. 7 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 February 1999 at 17:10

Classification

Incident

Location

Grand Canyon Pk, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

35.6391, -113.6097

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350B

Registration

N32GA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Silverado Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Grand Canyon

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX99IA085

Nobody was injured.

The in-flight separation of a side window for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While descending on an aerial tour flight with six passengers, the left side bubble window separated from the helicopter and impacted a tail rotor blade. The pilot made a precautionary landing in the canyon without further incident. Neither the separated window nor its doorframe attachment seal (gasket) was recovered. Examination of the helicopter's tail rotor blade found it bent and scratched with areas of debonded material. The damaged blade was not repairable. During preflight inspection the pilot did not see any damage to the window, and during the flight the left seated passenger was not observed pressing on it. Due to observed cracks in the previous window 4.5 months and 589 flight hours earlier, it had been replaced with a window removed from another helicopter. No maintenance record entry was found for the window installation. The operator's replacement window was manufactured under a FAA Supplemental Type Certificate. The STC holder said that if its 'wedge' window is not properly installed, or if it becomes cracked or damaged due to exposure to harmful cleaning solvents, its integrity may be compromised. The operator reported that if a small crack existed near the window's edge, it may not have been noticed/reported by the pilot due to a lack of conspicuity. The reason(s) for the window separation could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.