Eurocopter AS350BA N617LH

Summary

On 5 November 2009 at about 02:30 local time, a Eurocopter AS350BA registered N617LH, operated by Omni Flight Helicopters Inc, was involved in an accident near Globe, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 November 2009 at 02:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Globe, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

San Carlos Apache Airport (P13)

Coordinates

33.3522, -110.6706

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS350BA

Registration

N617LH

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Omni Flight Helicopters Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mesa → Globe

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR10LA046

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed or control of the helicopter during a simulated hydraulic failure maneuver, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial actions and the lack of a positive exchange of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a night vision goggle (NVG) training flight, the flight instructor initiated a simulated hydraulic failure on the downwind leg for landing. The flight instructor stated that during this maneuver, the pilot receiving instruction did not properly adjust the trim and did not maintain sufficient air speed. The helicopter slowed to about 20 knots, which was half the speed the flight instructor expected. When the flight instructor heard what he believed to be the low rotor horn and heard the pilot exclaim “uh-oh,” the flight instructor tried to regain control of the helicopter; however, the helicopter impacted the ground hard. Interviews with the pilot and instructor established that both were manipulating the controls after the initial loss of control and that no positive exchange of control had occurred. The pilot reported that the last time he had performed a simulated hydraulic failure was almost 1 year before the accident and that he had never performed such a procedure or had one demonstrated while operating with NVGs. The pilot and instructor reported no in-flight abnormalities with the helicopter before the initiation of the simulated hydraulic failure, and postaccident examination of the hydraulic system components revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.