On May 23, 2004, a Bell 412 (registration N555BA) operated by Air Methods Corp. was involved in an aviation accident near San Antonio, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the parked helicopter while performing a hovering turn. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
While hovering and executing a right pedal turn, a helicopter's tail rotor struck the main rotor of a parked helicopter, leading to a hard landing. Wind was from 170 degrees at 14 knots.
Incident Overview
A helicopter experienced a hard landing on a helipad after its tail rotor struck the main rotor blade of a parked helicopter during a pre-takeoff maneuver. Prior to takeoff, the helicopter had been parked facing northwest. While in a hover and performing a right pedal turn intended to align the aircraft into the wind, the tail rotor contacted the main rotor of the stationary helicopter.
Sequence of Events
Following the impact, the airborne helicopter entered an uncommanded right yaw. In response, the pilot reduced the collective pitch and throttles. The helicopter subsequently descended and landed hard onto the helipad.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the accident, the wind was reported from 170 degrees at a speed of 14 knots.