N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Mississippi 39110
Sunday, October 20, 2013 11:08 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he was climbing the helicopter through 1,300 feet when he felt an "explosion" in his face that knocked his visor up and affected both his visibility and crew communications. The pilot was eventually able to get his visor back down and land the helicopter, where it was discovered that both windshields were blown out, the center post and the cabin shell were damaged, the doors were blown open and onboard medical equipment was missing. On the ground, a crewmember stated that just before the event, he had seen a black bird fly toward the helicopter from above and left, but did not have enough time to call it out. Analysis of onboard residual bird feathers and a photograph of the suspect bird carcass indicated that it was a black vulture, which can weigh up to 4.8 pounds.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The helicopter's collision with a black vulture during climb to cruise altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/20/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1108
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Madison
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39110
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323414N
Event Location Longitude 0900931W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID KJAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 346
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KJAN 201554Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 16/06 A3011
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32144
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2013 3:02PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N911ES
NTSB Number ERA14CA009
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name EUROCOPTER
Aircraft Model AS 350 B2
Aircraft Series Identifier B2
Aircraft Serial Number 2665
Certified Max Gross Weight 4960
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats 2
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Oct 18 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8374
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name METRO AVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1214 HAWN AVE
Aircraft Owner City SHREVEPORT
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 711076612
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name METRO AVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1214 HAWN AVE
Operator City SHREVEPORT
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 711076612
Operator Code HDNA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 4MS6
Departure City Jackson
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1057
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5A6
Destination City Winona
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2013 3:03PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight Discretionary