History of Flight
On March 18, 2014, about 0738 Pacific daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2, registration N250FB, was destroyed when it impacted terrain following takeoff from the KOMO TV Heliport (WN16) in Seattle, Washington. The helicopter was operated by Helicopters Incorporated under Part 91. The commercial pilot and one passenger were fatally injured; one person in a stationary vehicle was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed; no flight plan was filed.
The helicopter had landed on the helipad about 30 minutes prior to refuel for a repositioning flight to Renton Municipal Airport (RNT). Witnesses reported that after lifting off, the helicopter pointed nose up, rotated counter-clockwise, and then descended out of control. Security camera recordings confirmed the helicopter lifted off, rotated counter-clockwise, ascended slightly, then transitioned to a nose-low attitude and lost altitude before ground impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 59, held a commercial pilot certificate with helicopter instrument and flight instructor ratings. His most recent second-class medical certificate was issued February 6, 2014, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses. He had accumulated 6,538.8 total flight hours, with 1,047 hours in AS350-D and about 5.5 hours in AS350-B2. The pilot had started ENG operations in 2002 and logged 1,092 hours in Bell 407. He began AS350-B2 training on January 31, 2014, receiving 0.5 hours recurrent training and later 3.0 hours including a check ride on February 8, 2014. His last flight before the accident was 39 days prior.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter, serial number 3669, was equipped with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 engine. Total time at accident was 7,706.5 hours; engine time 7,122.9 hours since new. Maintenance was performed per Manufacturer's Inspection Program, with the most recent inspection on March 13, 2014. On March 5, 2014, compliance with AD 2014-02-05 addressed collective locking stud clearance.
Meteorological Information
Weather at 0751 at Boeing Field (5 nm away) was wind 120° at 4 knots, 6 miles visibility, haze, broken clouds at 1,500 ft. At Renton Airport (9 nm southeast) wind calm, 10 miles visibility, overcast at 4,100 ft. No adverse weather was reported.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The main wreckage came to rest on its right side, oriented at 050° magnetic. A vehicle east of the wreckage was fire damaged; another vehicle west exhibited impact damage. Wreckage debris was within a 340-foot radius. The helicopter passed through tree branches before striking a parked car. Post-impact fire consumed much of the structure. All major components were accounted for.
Additional Information
GPS data from a Garmin GPSMAP 496 showed the helicopter at rest on the helipad at 14:39:10 UTC, then began moving at 14:39:43 UTC, with final groundspeed 12 knots and altitude 203 ft. Weight and balance were within limits. The helicopter had full fuel (about 143 gallons) after adding 75 gallons.