NTSB CAROL · Event
Event GAA18CA070
Registry · N790AM
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
Year of manufacture
2007 · 10 years old at event
TCDS
H9EU · AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 (747 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20080201
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AAB811
Registrant of record
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while landing off-airport, the helicopter landed slightly harder than normal. The helicopter was flown back to the airport without further incident. A post-accident examination revealed the helicopter had sustained substantial damage to the tail-boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, while landing off airport, the helicopter landed slightly harder than normal. The pilot flew the helicopter back to the airport without further incident. A postaccident examination revealed that the helicopter had sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2017_GAA18CA070.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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