Eurocopter AS350B2 N851HW
11 May 2000 · Mesa, Arizona, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 11 May 2000 at about 20:34 local time, a Eurocopter AS350B2 registered N851HW, operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Mesa, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. 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 20:34
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mesa, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Falcon (FFZ)
- Coordinates
- 33.4394, -111.8503
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350B2
- Registration
- N851HW
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Rocky Mountain Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX00LA195
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
the instructor pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The flight instructor was giving flight instruction to a new-hire pilot in preparation for his 14 CFR Part 135 check ride. Another new-hire pilot was seated in the back to observe the training. The pilot trainee was performing a hydraulics-off, run-on landing. As the student approached the touchdown point the instructor reminded him to keep his airspeed up. He reported that just prior to touchdown, the aircraft controls became very stiff. At that point, the flight instructor directed the pilot trainee to re-engage the hydraulics isolation switch on the collective control. The student re-engaged the hydraulics but reported that the controls remained stiff and he was having difficulty applying forward cyclic. As the instructor got on the controls it started a slow turn to the left. As the instructor attempted to counteract the turn rate increased. The helicopter impacted the ground in a left turn with rear lateral movement. The landing gear skids collapsed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Eurocopter AS350B2 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2000 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | Houston, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 24 May 2000 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | Patterson, Louisiana, United States | TEX Air Helcopters, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 2003 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | Venice, Louisiana, United States | Taylor Energy Company | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 Nov 1996 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | High Island A20 | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 8 Apr 2009 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | Cubiri, Mexico | Servicio Geologico Mexicano | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 Nov 2010 | Eurocopter AS350B2 | Pacoima, California, United States | Tiny Bubbles, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 2000 | Cessna 172 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Sunbird Flight Services | No injuries | - |
| 5 Nov 2000 | Piper PA28-200 | Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, United States | Air West Flying Club | Fatal | 2 |
| 20 Apr 2000 | Hughes OH-6A | Green Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2000 | Cessna 205 | Tacna, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 2000 | Cessna 414A | Prescott Valley, Arizona, United States | Patrick W. Swayze | No injuries | - |
| 28 Aug 2000 | Cessna 210E | Holbrook, Arizona, United States | - | No injuries | - |