History of Flight
On June 27, 2008, at 0341 mountain standard time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B3, registration N586AE, collided with level terrain during an attempted go-around near Ash Fork, Arizona. The flight was conducted by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The aircraft had departed Ernest A. Love Field Airport (PRC) in Prescott, Arizona, en route to a traffic accident. The pilot, along with two medical crew members, sustained serious injuries; the helicopter was substantially damaged. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed.
The pilot's duty shift began at 1830 on June 26. After starting his shift, he completed preflight checks on the accident helicopter and reviewed the weather. At 0310 on the accident day, he received a dispatch for a motorcycle accident on US Highway 89 south of Ash Fork. Five minutes later, he was cleared to depart, and at 0320, the helicopter launched with a nurse and paramedic aboard.
During the 20-minute flight, the pilot wore Night Vision Goggles and reported clear skies with unrestricted visibility, describing an "average to good night vision picture." After passing Chino, Arizona, he observed emergency vehicle lights to the north and contacted the incident commander, who directed him to land about 1.5 miles north of the accident site. The pilot orbited the accident site, deemed it safe to land directly, and requested permission to do so, but the incident commander instructed him to proceed to the designated landing zone (LZ).
The LZ was on a road adjoining Highway 89. The pilot flew over it and noted that the incident commander's vehicle placement would require a steeper-than-normal approach. He elected to approach from the west, crossing a sparsely vegetated dirt field, a gravel road, and a paved road. He began the approach about 300 feet laterally from the LZ at an altitude of 150–200 feet above ground level. Halfway through, he was surprised by the amount of dust from rotor wash and commented to the crew, "I don't like this very much." As dust rose to half his windshield, he initiated a go-around, increasing collective and referencing the attitude indicator to maintain a slightly nose-low attitude. Dust soon filled three-quarters of the windshield, but he believed he was climbing. Shortly after, the helicopter struck the ground, rolling onto its right side; the main rotor, tail rotor, and engine separated from the fuselage. The pilot stated that no mechanical failures or malfunctions occurred during the flight.
Pilot Information
The 61-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land and helicopter, plus commercial privileges for airplane single engine land and sea, and instrument helicopter. He held a second-class medical certificate issued February 2008, requiring corrective lenses. His total flight time was 9,636 hours, including 25 hours in the accident make and model over the last 90 days, 7 hours in the last 30 days (5 at night), and 136 total hours in type. He had 3,636 total helicopter hours. Operator records showed he met FAA-approved PHI Night Vision Goggle operations currency requirements. The pilot reported about 500 hours of Night Vision Goggle experience from Army National Guard service and began PHI employment in February 2007, his first Emergency Medical Services pilot position.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was a 2003 Eurocopter AS 350 B3, serial number 3725, powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine, serial number 22408. It was maintained under an FAA-approved aircraft inspection program, with total airframe time of 1,521 hours at the last inspection, 35 flight hours before the accident. The helicopter was not certified for instrument flight rules but was equipped with a radar altimeter.
Meteorological Information
The nearest weather observation station was at PRC, 38 miles south of the accident site, elevation 5,045 feet mean sea level. A routine weather report issued at 0353 MST indicated winds from 170 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 16°C, dew point 5°C, and altimeter setting 30.10 inches of mercury.