Eurocopter AS 350 B2 N913WB

Summary

On 10 December 2024 at about 20:10 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 registered N913WB, operated by Lapd Air Support Division, was involved in an accident near Los Alamitos, California, United States. 2 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.

Date

10 December 2024 at 20:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Alamitos, California, United States

Nearest airport

Los Alamitos Aaf (SLI)

Coordinates

33.7900, -118.0514

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350 B2

Registration

N913WB

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Lapd Air Support Division

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA058

2 people had minor injuries.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a run-on landing and the flight instructor’s excessive correction which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that after acknowledging a landing clearance, he activated the HYD TEST switch to simulate a hydraulics failure. The student pilot responded to the simulated emergency and initiated a shallow approach for a “running” or run-on landing. Upon touchdown the helicopter veered left, toward the edge of the runway. The flight instructor applied corrective cyclic movement, which resulted in the helicopter becoming airborne. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter but struggled to maintain control without hydraulic assistance. The helicopter yawed to the left uncontrollably and impacted the ground. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the helicopter on runway 04R with wind from 050° at 4 knots, gusting 12 knots. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.