# Accident 19970407005459A: Snias AS350D, Los Angeles, CA, April 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 1997, 12:09 local time
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Airport: Transamerica Center Heliport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Idling Rotors
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: EW3A
- Location: 34.0296° N, 118.2606° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0296&lon=-118.2606&mi=10
- Aircraft: N317LT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N317LT-2005-05-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: S N I A S AS350D ASTAR (registry code 8680803, https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350D
- Reported engine: LYC LTS101600A3
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,582 total, 300 in this make and model, 272 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970407005459A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT IN ORDER TO ESCORT A DEPLANING PASSENGER. THE STUDENT PILOT RATED PASSENGER WAS LEFT SITTING IN THE AIRCRAFT, WITH INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO TOUCH THE CONTROLS. WHILE THE PILOT WAS STANDING NEARBY, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN A RESONANT MODE. HE RAN BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT AND PULLED THE FUEL FLOW CONTROL LEVER INTO THE CUT OFF POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT AND SETTLED BACK ON THE DECK. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT THE COLLECTIVE WAS NOT DOWN AND LOCKED, NOR WERE THE FRICTIONS TIGHTLY APPLIED. THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED INSTANCES IN WHICH THE COLLECTIVE LOCK WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY AND CONSEQUENTLY RELEASED THE COLLECTIVE WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE FULLY DOWN POSITION OF THE COLLECTIVE IS SPRING LOADED TO KEEP TENSION AGAINST THE CONTROL LOCK. IF THE LOCK SLIPS OFF COLLECTIVE, THE SPRING'S TENSION CAN FORCE THE CONTROL TO MOVE UPWARD. NO MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE OR ROTOR SYSTEMS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97FA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA149), Apr 7, 1997: Aerospatiale AS350D (N317LT), Los Angeles, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to ensure that the collective lock was properly seated before deplaning.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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