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CEN12CA078

2011-11-13 · Carbondale, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 5IS1

N330SL has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONS EA 300/SC, built 2014), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The main rotor blade’s contact with the vertical stabilizer during the engine shutdown in strong, gusty wind conditions.

Factual narrative

During an engine shutdown procedure following an emergency medical services flight, a main rotor blade sustained substantial damage when it contacted the left vertical stabilizer. The main rotor blade broke near its root and the tailboom and tail rotor driveshaft cover were dented. The operator reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Local recorded winds were 190 degrees at 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. During an engine shutdown procedure following an emergency medical services flight, a main rotor blade sustained substantial damage when it contacted the left vertical stabilizer. The main rotor blade was broken near its root, and the tailboom and tail rotor driveshaft cover were dented. The local recorded wind was 25 knots gusting to 34 knots. The damage was consistent with the main rotor blade flapping with the gusty wind conditions and impacting the stabilizer. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft propeller/rotor-Main rotor system-Main rotor blade system-Unintentional use/operation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2011_CEN12CA078.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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