History of Flight
On June 29, 2014, about 1730 mountain daylight time, an Aerospatiale AS350B2, registration N350CR, collided with terrain near Dietrich, Idaho. Reeder Flying Service operated the helicopter under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as a cross-country aerial photography flight. The flight departed Twin Falls, Idaho, about 1630, with a planned destination of Rexburg, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
Witnesses reported the helicopter traveling in a northeasterly direction when it made a sudden 180-degree reversal to the southwest, followed by a rapid tail-first descent into the ground.
The pilot reported the flight's purpose was to position the helicopter and its camera equipment to a staging area for an intended aerial videography project. One passenger was in the front left seat to operate the camera; the other sat behind the pilot in the right rear outboard seat.
According to the pilot, prestart, run-up, and hover checks were uneventful. He flew to a scenic waterfall and completed two orbits to test the camera equipment. He then notified maintenance that he was proceeding to the staging area. After climbing to 800-1,000 ft agl, the pilot lost consciousness. His next recollection was waking up in an intensive care unit.
After the pilot lost consciousness, the front seat passenger attempted to control the helicopter using the cyclic; however, the helicopter eventually collided with terrain.
Personnel Information
The 57-year-old pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, helicopter, and instrument, as well as a flight instructor certificate with helicopter and instrument helicopter ratings. He held a second-class medical certificate issued March 24, 2014, with no limitations or waivers. He reported 7,405 total flight hours, with 2,683 hours in the accident make and model. He logged 88 hours in the previous 90 days and 39 in the previous 30 days, and completed a flight review on April 10, 2014.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter was an Airbus Helicopters, Inc., AS350B2, serial number 2328. The operator reported a total airframe time of 8,887 hours at the time of the accident. A 100-hour inspection was completed on April 11, 2014. The engine was a Honeywell LTS 101-700D-2, serial number LE-46019C, with 6,518 total hours and 904 hours since major overhaul.
Medical and Pathological Information
The NTSB medical officer reviewed the pilot's airman medical file and personal and hospital medical records. The pilot had a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He experienced gastroenteritis the night before the accident, with symptoms reportedly resolved after treatment with bismuth subsalicylate. The next morning he felt well enough to fly.
Postaccident medical records indicated the pilot suffered a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness (syncopal episode) while controlling the helicopter. Postaccident medical evaluation led to a diagnosis of sick sinus syndrome, a group of heart rhythm disorders including bradycardia or periods of excessive heart pause, sometimes accompanied by fatigue, confusion, or syncope. The condition was treated with an implanted pacemaker the day after the accident.
Tests and Research
Wreckage Examination
Investigators from the NTSB, Airbus Helicopters, and Honeywell examined the wreckage at Air Transport, Phoenix, Arizona, on July 15, 2014. The examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Video Study
Passengers were filming the flight. Video review showed the pilot slumped forward in his seat with limp, flaccid body movements. The front left passenger appeared to reach his right hand in front of the pilot near the cyclic area. The rear passenger appeared to reach forward and attempt to pull the pilot's upper torso toward the back of the seat. The helicopter then fell forward into the ground.