# Accident 20020902023579A: Snias AS350B3, Eagle Pass, TX, September 2, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2002, 14:30 local time
- Place: Eagle Pass, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.5375° N, 100.3264° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5375&lon=-100.3264&mi=10
- Aircraft: N747R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747R-2005-11-10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B3
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,398 total, 254 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW02LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA247) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020902023579A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2002, AT 1440 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A EUROCOPTER AS350B3 HELICOPTER, N747R, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE RPM CONTROL NEAR EAGLE PASS, TEXAS. THE HELICOPTER WAS REGISTERED TO SAGE WELL SERVICES, INC., AND OPERATED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF ENCINAL, TEXAS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED FOR THE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 BUSINESS FLIGHT. THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT DEPARTED DEL RIO, TEXAS, AT 1400, AND WAS DESTINED FOR AN OIL DRILLING RIG NEAR ENCINAL. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION INDICATES THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, WITH THE AUTOPILOT ENGAGED, THE GOVERNOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AUDIO SOUNDED. AS THE PILOT WAS TURNING THE HELICOPTER TO RETURN TO HOME BASE, THE ENGINE RPM BEGAN TO INCREASE AND DECREASE. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE RPM AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FIELD. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD SEPARATING THE TAIL BOOM AND FRACTURING TWO ARMS OF THE MAIN ROTOR STARFLEX.                                                 (-23) PILOT EXPERIENCED A MASTER CAUTION WARNING, RED GOV LIGHT ILLUMINATEDWHILE FLYING CROSS COUNTRY. SELECTED MANUAL THROTTLE CONTROL WITH THE AUTO PILOT ENGAGED. COULD NOT MAINTAIN CORRECT ENGINE AND MAIN ROTOR RPM. DECIDED TO PERFORM AN AUTOROTATION. TOUCHED DOWN HARD CAUSING MAIN ROTOR TO SEVER THE TAIL BOOM. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER, NO INJURY TO THE PILOT.

## 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 FTW02LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA247), Sep 2, 2002: Eurocopter AS350B3 (N747R), Eagle Pass, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The insufficient length of the stepper motor rack inside the HMU, which caused the red "GOV" light to illuminate and the fuel metering valve to freeze causing the engine to automatically engage 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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