Aerospatiale AS355F2 accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, May 17, 2003
On May 17, 2003 at about 1:55 pm local time, a Aerospatiale AS355F2 (helicopter), registered N42AT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia (Decatur County Industrial Park airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare during an attempted landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2003 · about 1:55 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia · Decatur County Industrial Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS355F2 · all AS355F2s on the register
- Registration
- N42AT · registry record · serial 5462
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he had just completed refueling and picked the helicopter up to a hover. He hovered over to another position on the ramp and turned the helicopter into the wind. He lowered the collective pitch and set the helicopter down hard on the ramp. The right rear skid contacted the ground and the aircraft began to shutter. After completing the engine shutdown he exited the helicopter and noticed that the tail boom support spar was cracked, the skin on both sides of the tailboom was wrinkled, and the star flex composite lead lag stabilizer was broken. Review of pilots records revealed the pilot had 7.5 total hours in the AS355 helicopter.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,615 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 866 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 17, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,379 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 16, 2003; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20F (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Trans Air Executive Jet Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: BGE Bainbridge GA at 1:55 pm
- Destination: CHA Chattanooga TN
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:03 pm from BGE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.