2 fatal · AIRBUS Helicopters AS350 · 2015-12-16 · Superior, AZ, USA
Event
NTSB number
WPR16FA040
Event ID
20151216X13718
Type
Accident
Date
2015-12-16
Location
Superior, AZ, USA
Coordinates
33.425277, -111.154724
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
2
Serious
1
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
3
Aircraft
Make
AIRBUS Helicopters
Model
AS350
Registration
N74317
FAR Part
135
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of helicopter control in mountainous terrain as the result of operating the helicopter outside the performance envelope of its hydraulic system and encountering the servo transparency phenomenon. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to perform low-level, high-speed maneuvers through mountainous terrain.