Airbus Helicopters EC 130 N22TZ

Summary

On 26 October 2017 at about 13:40 local time, a Airbus Helicopters EC 130 registered N22TZ, operated by Richardson Aviation, was involved in an accident near La Paloma, 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

26 October 2017 at 13:40

Classification

Accident

Location

La Paloma, Texas, United States

Coordinates

27.1300, -97.9700

Aircraft

Airbus Helicopters EC 130

Registration

N22TZ

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Richardson Aviation

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Drop

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Riviera → Riviera

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA034

Nobody was injured.

The separation of a weight from the gunner’s net, which struck the helicopter’s main rotor blade during flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot in the public helicopter, he was conducting a wildlife antipredation flight and maneuvering at a low altitude with two net gunners located on the left and right in the aft cabin. The pilot reported that he entered a left bank to pursue a deer. The deer was located "between our 8 and 9 o'clock position, and the net gunner made the net shot at the deer." The pilot observed the net miss the deer and simultaneously heard an unusual "whooshing noise" coming from the helicopter. He made a precautionary landing, and during the shutdown, he noticed what he described as an unusual discoloration of the main rotor disc. Examination of the main rotor blades revealed that one of the blades had a large hole in it, about 5 ft from the blade tip. The net that was fired at the deer was recovered and was found to be missing one of the weights that are normally attached to the net's corners. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to a main rotor blade. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.