Accident · 2016-04-15
What the record says
- Event date
- 2016-04-15
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury level
- No injuries
- Aircraft
- EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350 (N561AM)
- Operating rule
- Part 135
- Operator
- AirMethods Corporation Operator named in NTSB report
- Operated by (per NTSB report)
- AirMethods Corporation
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of helicopter control due to vortex ring state, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the landing approach with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB case ERA16LA159Flight crew
Certification and experience as recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event. The NTSB records these facts about the crew's flying history; GroundCheck shows them as filed, without names or identities.
| Role | Certificate | Instrument rating | Age | Medical | Flight hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot pilot flying | Commercial | Helicopter | 52 | Class 2 (2015-06-16) | 4,214 total · 1,620 in this make/model · 4,214 as PIC · 30 last 90 days |
Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.