Pilot Debrief

AEROSPATIALE AS350 near Ponca City, OK — 2019-01-11

Final reportCEN19LA068
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Date
2019-01-11
Location
Ponca City, OK, USA
Airport
PNC
Aircraft
AEROSPATIALE AS350
Registration
N346AE
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude during the hover operation while his view was obstructed due to the fogged-over windshield.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and an air ambulance crewmember were repositioning the helicopter due to incoming inclement weather. About halfway into the flight, the front windshields were fogging over, and the pilot increased the demister. Upon reaching the destination, the pilot hovered near the company hangar; by this time, the windshields had completely fogged over. The crewmember warned the pilot that he was getting close to the hangar, which was on the helicopter's left side. The pilot felt that he was high enough off the ground to move the helicopter several feet to the right, but the right skid was too low and contacted the ground, which resulted in a dynamic rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom. Based on the available information, the dynamic rollover was a result of the pilot's failure to maintain altitude during the hover operation with a fogged-over windshield.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing due to fogged windshields and poor visibility.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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