What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aerospatiale AS350B helicopter was involved in hover training over a grassy area then it pitched forward and the rotors struck the ground. (.4)the instructor pilot-command (PIC) of the twin-engine helicopter was giving a newly hired pilot a check out and instruction. After completion of a practice 'hydraulic system off' landing, the PIC performed a normal takeoff (with hydraulics 'on'). During the takeoff, the helicopter rolled over to the left, and the main rotor blades impacted the ground. The PIC reported that it felt like a 'hydraulic hardover.' Examination of the hydraulic system after the accident did not reveal any defects or anomalies that would validate a hydraulic hardover. (-23) on Monday, December 14, 1998, at approximately 1745, central standard time, an aerospaciale AS-350-BA, N911MV, helicopter was substantially damaged. It rolled over during takeoff from a grass covered area, located on the San Angelo airport, San Angelo, Texas. The helicopter was owned and operated by southwest helicopters, inc., of tucson, Arizona, and was being leased as an air evacuation helicopter by the shannon hospital, San Angelo, tex as. The pilot in command, george e. ezell, southwest helicopters, inc., was giving a new hire, raymond l.wilson, a checkout and instruction in the helicopter. The pilot in command had control of the helicopter during the takeoff. The helicopter nosed down to the left contacting the ground. The helicopter rolled over to the left and the main rotors impacted the ground. The helicopter came to an upright position on its skids. The accident caused major damage to the helicopter. No contributing factors are evident.
As the FAA filed it
AEROSPATIALE AS350B HELICOPTER WAS INVOLVED IN HOVER TRAINING OVER A GRASSY AREA THEN IT PITCHED FORWARD AND THE ROTORS STRUCK THE GROUND. (.4)THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT-COMMAND (PIC) OF THE TWIN-ENGINE HELICOPTER WAS GIVING A NEWLY HIRED PILOT A CHECK OUT AND INSTRUCTION. AFTER COMPLETION OF A PRACTICE 'HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OFF' LANDING, THE PIC PERFORMED A NORMAL TAKEOFF (WITH HYDRAULICS 'ON'). DURING THE TAKEOFF, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER TO THE LEFT, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PIC REPORTED THAT IT FELT LIKE A 'HYDRAULIC HARDOVER.' EXAMINATION OF THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AFTER THE ACCIDENT DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFECTS OR ANOMALIES THAT WOULD VALIDATE A HYDRAULIC HARDOVER. (-23) ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1998, AT APPROXIMATELY 1745, CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, AN AEROSPACIALE AS-350-BA, N911MV, HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. IT ROLLED OVER DURING TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS COVERED AREA, LOCATED ON THE SAN ANGELO AIRPORT, SAN ANGELO, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY SOUTHWEST HELICOPTERS, INC., OF TUCSON, ARIZONA, AND WAS BEING LEASED AS AN AIR EVACUATION HELICOPTER BY THE SHANNON HOSPITAL, SAN ANGELO, TEX AS. THE PILOT IN COMMAND, GEORGE E. EZELL, SOUTHWEST HELICOPTERS, INC., WAS GIVING A NEW HIRE, RAYMOND L.WILSON, A CHECKOUT AND INSTRUCTION IN THE HELICOPTER. THE PILOT IN COMMAND HAD CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER DURING THE TAKEOFF. THE HELICOPTER NOSED DOWN TO THE LEFT CONTACTING THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER TO THE LEFT AND THE MAIN ROTORS IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION ON ITS SKIDS. THE ACCIDENT CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER. NO CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE EVIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N911MV · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.