Agusta Spa A109E N906AH accident near Ras Tanajib, SA

Preliminary information

On August 22, 2009, at 0506 universal coordinated time, an Agusta 109E helicopter, N906AH, operated by Saudi Aramco Aviation, sustained substantial damage during landing and a post crash fire at barge Arabyia 4, in the Persian Gulf, near Ras Tanajib, Saudi Arabia. The pilot and 4 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Ras Tanajib Airport (OETN), at 0456.

According to the operator, the helicopter touched down on the barge, the helicopter began to shake, the main rotor contacted the tail boom and cabin, and a fire ensued. During the accident sequence, the pilot was able to secure the engines and stop the main rotor with the rotor brake. The pilot and passengers exited the helicopter uninjured, and barge personnel extinguished the fire.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of 28 degrees, 05 minutes north latitude, 048 degrees, 44 minutes east longitude.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA)

P.O. Box 887, Jeddah, 21165

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Tel: 966-2685-5515

Fax: 966-2-685-5507

This report is for informational purposes and contains only information released by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09WA478 for the full record.