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WPR22LA154

2022-04-16 · Deer Valley, Arizona, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport DVT

Current FAA registration · N808LF

Make / Model
EUROCOPTER AS 350 B3
Year of manufacture
2010 · 12 years old at event
Engine
TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 (747 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20100714
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB0095

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The fuelers improper action during the refueling process.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the helicopter reported that, he was on the ramp with the engine running to accomplish a rapid refuel. The fueler was attempting to attach the grounding cable to the helicopter and due to the cable not locking, he maneuvered the cable up and down, which then contacted the main rotor blades. The pilot reported he felt a “violent jolt” and immediately shut the engine down. The fueler’s hands were seriously injured. The main rotor blades were substantially damaged. 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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Ground crew

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_WPR22LA154.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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