Accidents: September 2014
A synopsis of preliminary, factual and fatal reports.

Preliminary Report: Hard Landing Damages AStar

Airbus Helicopters AS350B3, Fallon, Nev., July 3, 2014–The pilot of the helicopter received minor injuries in a hard landing and rollover in VFR conditions approximately 54 miles east of Fallon, Nev. The helicopter was registered to Zuni and operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters under a Part 133 contract with the Bureau of Land Management. The pilot was maneuvering the helicopter with an external load into a mountain drop zone at 8,600 feet msl. As the helicopter approached, and with the load about 10 feet above the ground, the nose yawed left and the helicopter descended. The pilot set the load down, but the helicopter continued to rotate to the left while descending. It landed hard and rolled over, incurring substantial damage.