# Accident 19981213033309A: Snias AS350BA, San Angelo, TX, December 13, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 13, 1998, 17:45 local time
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Airport: Mathis Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.2808° N, 100.4106° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2808&lon=-100.4106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911MV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911MV-1999-03-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350B (registry code 8680800, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350BA
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,485 total, 610 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA048) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981213033309A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 FTW99LA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA048), Dec 13, 1998: Aerospatiale AS-350-BA (N911MV), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the rollover during take off for undetermined reasons.

## Other reports on N911MV (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19951207044929I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951207044929I), Dec 7, 1995: Snias AS350B (N911MV), Carlsbad, TX, Minor damage. Narrative: an EMS helicopter operating under FAR 135, departed san angelo, Texas, to pick up a patient involved in an accident. Upon landing at the scene, the…

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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