Casualties unknown

Helicopter Main Rotor Blades Flex Into Tailboom Due to Vortex From Nearby Landing (N810MH)

Meadview, AZ, US

On November 15, 2007, an Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 (registration N810MH) operated by Maverick Helicopters, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Meadview, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The downward flexing of the standing helicopter's main rotor blades and subsequent impact with its tail boom as a result of another helicopter's rotor blade's vortices. . 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A helicopter on the ground sustained substantial damage when its main rotor blades flexed downward and struck the tailboom, caused by rotor vortices from another helicopter landing about 40-50 feet away.

Incident Summary

The pilot of a helicopter reported that after landing and while shutting down the engine, another helicopter from the same company landed approximately 40 to 50 feet away at the 2 o'clock position. The vortices generated by the main rotor blades of the landing helicopter caused the main rotor blades of the stationary helicopter to flex downward. This downward flexing resulted in the blades impacting the tailboom of the stationary helicopter, leading to substantial damage.

Sequence of Events

According to the pilot's account, the incident occurred just after landing. The engine shutdown procedure was in progress when the second helicopter, also operated by the same company, touched down nearby. The positioning of the landing helicopter relative to the stationary one was at a 2 o'clock direction, with a distance of about 40 to 50 feet.

The rotor wash and vortices from the landing helicopter's main rotor blades affected the stationary helicopter's rotors, causing them to deflect. The flexing was sufficient to bring the blades into contact with the tailboom structure.

Damage Assessment

The impact between the main rotor blades and the tailboom resulted in substantial damage to the stationary helicopter. No further details on the extent of the damage or any other consequences were provided in the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20071226X01988. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.