Bell 412 N555BA

Summary

On 23 May 2004 at about 21:05 local time, a Bell 412 registered N555BA, operated by Air Methods Corp., was involved in an accident near San Antonio, Texas, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 2004 at 21:05

Classification

Accident

Location

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Baptist Medical Center (09XS)

Coordinates

29.4328, -98.4922

Aircraft

Bell 412

Registration

N555BA

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Air Methods Corp.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Antonio → New Braunfels

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW04LA133

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked helicopter while performing a hovering turn.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to takeoff, the helicopter was parked facing the northwest. While in a hover and executing a right pedal turn to align into the wind, the helicopter's tail rotor struck a parked helicopter's main rotor blade. The airborne helicopter entered into right yaw, and the pilot reduced collective and throttles. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard onto the helipad. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 170 degrees at 14 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.