N557AC is a 2014 Eurocopter EC 225 LP. It is a rotorcraft with 23 seats, powered by a Turbomeca MAKILA 2A1 rated at 1746 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Miami, FL. Its standard airworthiness certificate was issued in May 2021. It has been registered to its current owner since May 2020. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 12 years old
- Only 19 Eurocopter EC 225 LP here
2021
2020
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N557AC's record changes.
The pilot descended the helicopter out of mountainous terrain and then continued over a large mountain lake, cruising about 100 knots, between 200 and 250 feet. The lake water was very clear and perfectly calm. The pilot looked inside the cockpit to check instruments, and when he looked outside and below the helicopter, he experienced a feeling of mental confusion similar to vertigo. At this point the pilot estimated that the helicopter was between 15 and 20 feet above the water. He pulled aft on the cyclic, the helicopter impacted the water, pitched forward, and sank. The pilot and his two passengers were able to egress the helicopter while it was submerged.
Immediately after the accident the pilot told a Park Ranger who was on-scene that he was traveling a little low and thinks he set a skid in the water. One of the passengers stated that moments before the collision with the water the pilot had asked them if they wanted to get closer to the water and if they wanted to chase some birds.
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