Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 N810MH

Summary

On 15 November 2007 at about 20:20 local time, a Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 registered N810MH, operated by Maverick Helicopters, Inc., was involved in an accident near Meadview, Arizona, United States. 7 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

15 November 2007 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Meadview, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Meadview Airstrip (NONE)

Coordinates

36.0006, -114.0690

Aircraft

Eurocopter France EC 130 B4

Registration

N810MH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Maverick Helicopters, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Las Vegas → Meadview

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08CA027

Nobody was injured.

The downward flexing of the standing helicopter's main rotor blades and subsequent impact with its tail boom as a result of another helicopter's rotor blade's vortices. .

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had just landed and was in the process of shutting the engine down when another company helicopter landed at his 2 o'clock position about 40 to 50 feet away. The vortices created by the second helicopter's main rotor blades caused the main rotor blades of the standing helicopter to flex downward before impacting its tailboom, which resulted in substantial damage to the standing helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.