Aerospatiale AS350B N9001S
26 October 1991 · Scottsdale, Arizona, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 26 October 1991 at about 22:15 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350B registered N9001S, operated by Lone Eagle Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:15
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
- Coordinates
- 33.6095, -111.8900
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350B
- Registration
- N9001S
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Lone Eagle Aviation, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Scottsdale → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX92FA025
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Probable cause
AN UNDETERMINED MALFUNCTION OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM IN WHICH THE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED, PREVENTING THE MOVEMENT OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT/CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WAS CONDUCTING TRAINING WITH A SECOND PILOT IN HELICOPTER EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, THAT INCLUDED HYRAULICS OFF LANDINGS. ON THE THIRD LANDING WITHOUT HYRAULIC BOOST PRESSURE, AT AN AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 2 KNOTS AND A SKID HEIGHT OF ABOUT 1 FOOT, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN AN UNCOMMANDED TURN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO COUNTER THE TURN BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE HELICOPTER'S LEFT BANK ANGLE, NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND LEFT TURN CONTINUED UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND. THE LEFT FRONT PORTION OF THE FUSELAGE AND SKID TUBE THEN STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, INCLUDING DISASSEMBLY OF THE MAIN ROTOR CONTROL SERVOS, FAILED TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THIS IS THE SECOND RPTD HYD OFF FLT CONTROL SEIZURE THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE FLT CREW OF BOTH HELICOPTERS WERE WELL QUALIFIED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Jul 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Kahului, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Airways, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Wixom, Michigan, United States | City of Detroit | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Cloverdale, California, United States | Resort Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 30 Jun 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Glacier, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 May 1992 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Winnsboro, South Carolina, United States | Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1990 | Aerospatiale AS350B | Saipan | Micronesian Aviation Corp. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164B | Arizona City, Arizona, United States | Al-Don Dusting SVC., Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 177 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Michael P. Turner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Cessna 172N | Sedona, Arizona, United States | Aerovision, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1991 | Eagle DW1 | Poston, Arizona, United States | Michael Morris | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1991 | Experimental DSA-1 | Kingman, Arizona, United States | James D. Janson | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 1991 | Cessna 402C | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States | Sierra Nevada Airways | No injuries | - |