Pilot Debrief

BELL 430 near Miami Gardens, FL — 2014-12-21

Final reportERA15CA081
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Date
2014-12-21
Location
Miami Gardens, FL, USA
Airport
0FD2
Aircraft
BELL 430
Registration
N430WH
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's misjudgment of his helicopter's position relative to a parked helicopter during a pedal turn.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he made a "normal" approach to a helipad and subsequently hover-taxied to the parking area. Two other helicopters were parked on opposite sides of the parking area, and per existing procedures, the pilot hover-taxied his helicopter to the center of the parking area and commenced a pedal turn to align it with the others. About 90 degrees through the turn, a tail rotor blade from the pilot's helicopter impacted a main rotor blade tip on one of the parked helicopters, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor blade. The pilot subsequently completed the turn and landed without further incident. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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