MARCH 12, 2015
NTSB Identification: CEN15FA164
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, March 06, 2015 in St Louis, MO
Aircraft: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS EC 130 B4, registration: N356AM
Injuries: 1 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 either traveled in support of
this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work
without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this
aircraft accident report.
On March 6, 2015, at 2310 central standard time, an Airbus
Helicopters (Eurocopter) EC-130-B4, N356AM, operated by Air Methods (doing
business as ARCH), struck the edge of a hospital building and impacted its
parking lot during a visual approach to the St Louis University Hospital
elevated rooftop helipad (MO55), St Louis, Missouri.
During the approach, the
helicopter experienced a loss of directional control and entered an
uncontrolled descent. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and a
post-crash fire. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained
fatal injuries. The helicopter was operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as an
air medical positioning flight that was operating on a company flight plan. Night
visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The
flight was returning to MO55 after it had been refueled at the operator’s base
in St. Louis, Missouri.
The flight’s first approach and landing at MO55 was to drop
off a medic, nurse, and a patient. During the approach, the pilot reported to
the flight nurse and medic that winds were gusting to 25 knots.
The flight
nurse stated that helicopter was yawing quite a bit and there was a noticeable
roll side to side during landing. The helicopter landed without incident during
the first approach and landing. The flight then departed to obtain fuel at the
operator’s base and then departed to return to MO55, to pick up the medic and
flight nurse.
The accident occurred during the return’s approach for
landing at MO55.
Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control
continuity of the tail rotor drive system and there were indications consistent
with engine power on the turbine wheel output shaft.