Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Wednesday, December 07, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV
Aircraft: EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B2, registration: N37SH
Injuries: 5 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators traveled in support of this investigation and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On December 7, 2011 at 1630 Pacific Standard Time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2, registration N37SH, operated by Sundance Helicopters as flight Landmark 57, crashed in mountainous terrain approximately 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was a tourist sightseeing flight, which departed from Las Vegas McCarren International Airport (LAS), Las Vegas, NV, intending to fly to the Hoover Dam area and return to LAS, operating under visual flight rules. The helicopter impacted in a narrow ravine in mountainous terrain between the city of Henderson and Lake Mead. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged by impact forces and post-crash fire. Weather was reported as clear with good visibility and dusk light conditions.
Radar data obtained from the FAA show that the helicopter departed LAS and followed a normal route of flight easterly out of the LAS airport traffic area, then turned to the southeast toward Hoover Dam. Tour routings are standardized for all the area tour operators. The helicopter was level at 3,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) at approximately 120 knots. About one minute prior to the accident, the radar indicated the helicopter climbed to 4,100 feet MSL and turned about 90 degrees to the left. The left turn and climb are not part of the normal route. Radar then indicated the helicopter descended to 3,300 feet MSL and tracked a northeasterly course for about 20 seconds, until entering a left turn then a descent. The last radar target received was about 1/8 miles from the accident site.
(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- The National Transportation Safety Board said the engine was changed in the helicopter the day before the crash outside of Las Vegas that killed five people. They revealed maintenance information and other details on the ongoing investigation during a news conference on Friday night.
"The aircraft underwent normal 100-hour maintenance the day before the accident," NTSB board member Mark Rosenkind said. "The engine was changed, and was changed due to reaching life limits. There were also two actuators changed- one in the tail, and one of three in the main rotors. Those were also changed due to life limits."
Mark Rosenkind said the crash site is 1.8 miles of the main road, another 0.7 miles by ATV, another 80 yards hiking, and about a 10-foot ladder climb.
Air traffic control specialists in Washington D.C. have been reviewing radar data, and told NTSB where the helicopter tour took a deadly turn.
"The aircraft took off from McCarran Airport, flew north over the Strip, then turned due east for about five miles away from the airport," Rosenkind said. "It then turned southeast at about 3,500 feet altitude toward Hoover Dam. All of that is normal departure and route for one of these tour operations."
"About one minute before the impact, the aircraft climbed to 4,100 feet, makes a left turn -- a fairly sharp turn. It then descends back to 3500 feet, and about 20 seconds later, makes a left turn and a steep descent directly over the crash site."
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IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 37SH Make/Model: AS35 Description: EUROCOPTER AS350
Date: 12/08/2011 Time: 0115
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: LAS VEGAS State: NV Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N37SH EUROCOPTER AS350B2 SUNDANCE AIR TOUR ROTORCRAFT CRASHED INTO ROUGH
TERRIAN, THE 5 PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, 12 MILES FROM LAS
VEGAS, NV
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 5
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 4 Fat: 4 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: VFR
OTHER DATA
Activity: Aerial Observation Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: LAS VEGAS, NV (WP19) Entry date: 12/08/2011
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