N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Texarkana, Texas 75503
Monday, June 23, 2014 13:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On June 23, 2014, about 1345 central daylight time, an Airbus Helicopters AS-350B2, N407EM, was substantially damaged following an autorotation near Texarkana, Texas. The commercial pilot, two crew members, and passenger were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by EagleMed LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as emergency medical services flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on a visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Idabel, Oklahoma, about 1320, and was destined for Texarkana, Texas. According to a statement provided by the pilot, the helicopter was in cruise flight about 1,000 feet above ground level and five minutes from landing at the destination hospital. The pilot noticed the helicopter's rotor RPM rapidly increased with the associated high rotor aural warning. He attempted to troubleshoot the malfunction before deciding to perform an autorotation to a farm field. During the landing from the autorotation, the main rotors contacted and partially severed the tail boom resulting in substantial damage. The helicopter was retained for further examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/23/2014
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Texarkana
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75503
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333208N
Event Location Longitude 0941133W
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 1753 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 118
Weather Observation Facility ID KTXK
Elevation of weather observation facility 399
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KTXK 231753Z 18011G20KT 9SM FEW026 29/23 A29
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source NTX FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2014 1:52PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N407EM
NTSB Number CEN14LA312
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 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Model AS-350B2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1906
Certified Max Gross Weight 4630
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EAGLEMED LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WICHITA
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 672092926
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name EAGLEMED LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WICHITA
Operator State KS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 672092926
Operator Code 7EMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number 7EMA575M
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 --
Departure City Idabel
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Texarkana
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2014 1:40PM
User who most recently changed record aguj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight Yes
Medical Flight --