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ERA12CA580

2012-09-24 · Theodore, Alabama, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2AL4

Current FAA registration · N781P

Make / Model
SIKORSKY S-76C
Year of manufacture
2006 · 6 years old at event
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2S2 (817 hp)
Seats / Engines
14 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
20060929
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA9582

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance while taxiing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during a hover taxi maneuver, the tail rotor made contact with a main rotor blade of a parked helicopter that was tied down. The taxiing helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor blades. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during a hover-taxi maneuver, the tail rotor made contact with the main rotor blade of a parked helicopter that was tied down. The taxiing helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail rotor blades. The pilot did not report and postaccident examination did not reveal any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ERA12CA580.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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