No fatalities

24 Sep 2012: SIKORSKY S-76C — PHI INC — Theodore, AL

Theodore, AL, United States

On 24 Sep 2012, a SIKORSKY S-76C operated by PHI INC was involved in an aviation accident near Theodore, AL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance while taxiing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 9 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During a hover taxi, a helicopter's tail rotor contacted the main rotor blade of a parked, tied-down helicopter. The taxiing helicopter sustained substantial damage to its tail rotor blades.

Incident Overview

A helicopter pilot reported that while performing a hover taxi maneuver, the aircraft's tail rotor made contact with a main rotor blade of a parked helicopter that was secured with tie-downs. The incident resulted in substantial damage to the tail rotor blades of the taxiing helicopter.

Investigation Findings

Examination of the helicopter involved in the incident did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Damage Assessment

The damage was limited to the tail rotor blades of the taxiing helicopter. No other damage was reported to either aircraft.

Contributing factors

Pilot