Eurocopter France AS350 N561AM

Summary

On 15 April 2016 at about 23:55 local time, a Eurocopter France AS350 registered N561AM, operated by AirMethods Corporation, was involved in an accident near Jasper, Georgia, United States. 4 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 April 2016 at 23:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Jasper, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Hospital Helipad (NONE)

Coordinates

34.4456, -84.4458

Aircraft

Eurocopter France AS350

Registration

N561AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

AirMethods Corporation

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gainesville → Jasper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ERA16LA159

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of helicopter control due to vortex ring state, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the landing approach with a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was approaching the helipad with a direct 11-knot tailwind gusting to 16 knots. About 250 ft above ground level, the commercial pilot lost tail rotor and cyclic authority, and the helicopter pitched forward and accelerated toward the ground. The pilot recognized the onset of vortex ring state, reduced engine power, and attempted to initiate a go-around; however, insufficient altitude remained to complete the maneuver, and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in a partial separation of the tailboom. The operator reported and postaccident examination confirmed that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.