Eurocopter EC-135P1 accident near Washington, DC
On May 30, 2006, an Eurocopter EC-135P1 (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Washington, DC. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 30, 2006
- Place
- Washington, DC
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter EC-135P1 · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.934°N, 77.008°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060607X00691
Official records · NYC06MA131
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 30, 2006, at 1645 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter EC-135P1, N601FH, operated by CJ Systems, Inc., was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while maneuvering to land at the Washington Hospital Center Helipad (DC08), Washington, D.C. The certificated airline transport pilot and two medical crewmembers were seriously injured. The critically ill patient on board the helicopter was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated at Greater Southeast Community Hospital, Washington, D.C. A company flight plan was filed for the medical transport flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 135. The helicopter came to rest on the golf course at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, approximately 1/2 mile north of the helipad. The elevation at both the crash site and the hospital helipad was approximately 200 feet above mean sea level (msl). A review of radar data revealed that a target identified as the accident helicopter approached the helipad from the south, and overflew the helipad. The helicopter then completed a teardrop-shaped circuit on the north side of the hospital center, returned, and again over flew the helipad, traveling southbound. After crossing the helipad, a left-hand circuit that roughly resembled a standard airport traffic pattern was flown around the east side of the hospital grounds. The helicopter turned westbound in what approximated a base-leg turn, then the radar target was lost in the area of the crash site. The altitudes recorded from the first over flight of the helipad to the last
Probable cause
The operator's inadequate training program and the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter following his inadvertent disabling of the No. 1 and then the No. 2 engine full authority digital engine control system.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
