Aerospatiale AS-350 N902BA
13 January 1994 · Lakeland, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 13 January 1994 at about 17:30 local time, a Aerospatiale AS-350 registered N902BA, operated by Bulldog Airlines Inc., was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lakeland, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 27.9794, -82.0099
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS-350
- Registration
- N902BA
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Bulldog Airlines Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Observation
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Orlando → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA94LA050
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR GOVERNOR MALFUNCTION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE WRITTEN PROCEDURES IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL BY THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS MANEUVERING BETWEEN 500 TO 600 FEET AGL, AT 70 MPH, WHEN THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A HIGH SIDE GOVERNOR FAILURE. HE RETARDED THE FUEL CONTROL LEVER (F.F.C.) AFT TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION AND NOTED NO CHANGE. HE THEN MOVED THE THROTTLE TO THE OFF POSITION, TURNED THE FUEL CONTROL VALVE OFF, AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD WHILE MANEUVERING IN THE DESCENT TO AVOID POWER LINES. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE DURING THE LANDING. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE FAA AND THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PILOT'S DIAGNOSIS OF A HIGH SIDE GOVERNOR FAILURE. THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL FOR A GOVERNOR FAILURE STATES, SLOWLY MOVE THE F.F.C. LEVER REARWARDS UNTIL ROTOR SPEED CORRESPONDS TO A POSITION OF THE INDICATOR POINTER IN THE CENTER OF THE GREEN AREA. THE MANUAL DOES NOT STATE THAT IN ORDER TO MODULATE THE FUEL FLOW, THE F.F.C. LEVER MUST GO BELOW THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS-350 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Feb 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Humuula, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Hawaiian Helicopters | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Juneau, Alaska, United States | Temsco Helicopters, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Apr 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 | Telluride, Colorado, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1994 | Aerospatiale AS-350 | Caryville, Florida, United States | Usda Forest Service | No injuries | - |
| 31 May 1995 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B2 | Skagway, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Aug 1990 | Aerospatiale AS-350-B | Juneau, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Live Oak, Florida, United States | Barker, Sirios C. | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Miami, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jan 1994 | Cessna 152 | Osprey, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jan 1994 | Boeing A75N1 | Zellwood, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jan 1994 | Piper PA-28-180 | Boynton Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Jan 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Naples, Florida, United States | London Helicoper Inc. | Minor injuries | - |