# Accident 20000524008119A: Snias AS350B2, Patterson, LA, May 24, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2000, 10:25 local time
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Airport: Harry P Williams Memorial Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: TXEA
- Location: 29.6898° N, 91.2999° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6898&lon=-91.2999&mi=10
- Aircraft: N350JG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N350JG-2001-08-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000524008119A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N350JG DEPARTED MORGAN CITY, LA ON SECOND FLIGHT OF THE DAY FOR OFF SHORE DESTINATION. PRIOR TO CROSSING THE BEACH THE PILOT HEARD A THUMP AND NOTED A SLIGTH YAW.  PASSSINF TRAFFIC OFFERED TO EXAMINE THE TAIL ROTOR FORROTATION AS THE AIRCRAFT DIVERTED TO PATTERSON.  EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR TAIL ROTOR MALFUNCTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND PATTERSON UNICOM WAS NOTIFIED WITH A REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT.  WHILE ACCOMPLISHING PRACTICE APPROACHES FOR A RUN ON LANDING, A CONFERENCE CALL WAS MADE TO EUROCOPTER MANAGMENT BY PAUL ROSENBERGER, THE REGIONAL TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR EUROCOPTER.  AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING DOWNWIND FOR THE FIFTH APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT LOST HYDRQULICS AND YAW BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE.  THE PASSENGER BROUGHT THE FUEL CONTROL LEVER BACK, AS BRIEFED AND THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION.  THE DOWNWIND AUTOROTATION WAS TO A CLEAR SOD AREA AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT SKID DUG IN AND THE AIRCRAFT WENT UP ON ITS NOSE, ROTATED 90 DEGREES, ROLLED LEFT 90 DEGREES AND FELL ON ITS LEFT SIDE.  THE PASSENGER AND PILOT EVACUATED AIRCRAFT.

## 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 FTW00LA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA153), May 24, 2000: Eurocopter AS350B2 (N350JG), Patterson, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the tail rotor spider bearing, the pilot's failure to follow the proper emergency procedures as stated in the helicopter's checklist by not performing a run-on landing, and 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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