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GAA17CA167

2017-02-26 · Las Vegas, Nevada, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LAS

Current FAA registration · N864MH

Make / Model
EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4
Year of manufacture
2008 · 9 years old at event
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 (747 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20090204
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ABDECE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's abrupt cyclic/pitch attitude control movement, which resulted in a Fenestron ground strike.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that during the hover taxi for departure in the ramp area, he was monitoring another helicopter that had just departed and then "brought [his] eyes inside [the helicopter]" to switch a radio frequency. As the pilot looked back outside, he observed "the nose of a big plane taxiing" from behind another parked airplane to his left. Subsequently, the pilot abruptly applied aft cyclic to stop the helicopter's forward momentum and the Fenestron struck the ramp. The pilot returned to the ramp area without further incident. The Fenestron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the helicopter reported that, during the hover-taxi for departure in the ramp area, he was monitoring another helicopter that had just departed and then "brought [his] eyes inside [the helicopter]" to switch a radio frequency. As the pilot looked back outside, he observed "the nose of a big plane taxiing" from behind another parked airplane to his left. Subsequently, the pilot abruptly applied aft cyclic to stop the helicopter's forward momentum, and the Fenestron struck the ramp. The pilot returned to the ramp area without further incident. The Fenestron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter 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-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Incorrect use/operation - C
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA167.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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