Airbus A350 N544AM

Summary

On 16 October 2021 at about 20:00 local time, a Airbus A350 registered N544AM, operated by Air Meathods Corp, was involved in an accident near Tucson, Arizona, 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

16 October 2021 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Tucson Medical Center (AZ37)

Coordinates

32.2517, -110.8793

Aircraft

Airbus A350

Registration

N544AM

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Air Meathods Corp

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nogales → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR22LA018

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from ground equipment during landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The operator reported that, during the landing for the air medical helicopter flight, the tail rotor blades collided with a large fire extinguisher that was located on the approach path and abeam a perimeter fence. The helicopter subsequently landed without further incident. The tailboom and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. 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.