Accident Eurocopter AS350BA N234AH, Sunday 8 March 2009

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Sunday 8 March 2009
Time:	07:50 LT
Type:	Eurocopter AS350BA
Owner/operator:	Island Express Helicopters, Inc.
Registration:	N234AH
MSN:	2489
Year of manufacture:	1991
Total airframe hrs:	8130 hours
Engine model:	Turbomeca Arriel 1D1
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Long Beach, California - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Ferry/positioning
Departure airport:	Long Beach Airport, CA (LGB/KLGB)
Destination airport:	Long Beach, CA
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The helicopter pilot said that he thought that the approach to the helipad seemed and felt normal, but in retrospect was flat. A witness thought that the approach was flat and fast. He indicated that the helicopter was in a nose-high attitude when the tail rotor hit the ground between rocks at the waterline and the edge of the pad. The pilot felt a jolt followed by a shutter. Because of the tail rotor damage, the helicopter yawed out of control to the left. It rotated 360 degrees as the pilot lowered the collective. Once completely on the ground, he pulled the fuel flow control lever out of the flight gate, pulled the emergency fuel shutoff control, and powered everything down while applying the main rotor brake.

Probable Cause: The pilot's misjudged speed and altitude, which resulted in an undershoot of the landing zone.

Accident investigation: