Sikorsky S-76D N761AF

Summary

On 13 March 2022 at about 00:45 local time, a Sikorsky S-76D registered N761AF, operated by Arkansas Children's Hospital, was involved in an accident near Texarkana, Arkansas, 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

13 March 2022 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Texarkana, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Heliport Texarkana Wadley Regi (64XS)

Coordinates

33.4288, -94.0479

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-76D

Registration

N761AF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2013

Engines

2

Operator

Arkansas Children's Hospital

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Little Rock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN22LA147

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance during landing on a rooftop helipad.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was on approach to a hospital rooftop helipad that he had never landed at before. About 30 ft above ground level, he felt a “thump” in the pedals; the helicopter vibrated, pitched forward, rolled left, then yawed right. The pilot landed the helicopter on the helipad. After the accident the pilot discovered that the tail rotor had contacted the building. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor, tail rotor drivetrain, and tail pylon. 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.