# Accident 20020911023629A: Snias AS350B, Peach Springs, AZ, September 11, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 11, 2002, 17:40 local time
- Place: Peach Springs, AZ
- Airport: Grand Canyon West
- Damage: Destroyed
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: S9HA
- Location: 36.0028° N, 113.8000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0028&lon=-113.8000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N357NT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N357NT-2009-07-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aerospatiale AS350B (registry code 8680800, https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02FA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA281) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020911023629A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 9-11-02 THIS AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE HYDRAULIC FAILURE. THE PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM A LANDING WITH THE AIRSPEED AT APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROTATE AND AFTER 2 REVOLUTIONS THE PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPIN. FROM AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 25 FEET THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AUTOROTATE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD RESULTING IN THE CROSSTUBES ROTATING REARWARD IN THE SADDLES AND BREAKING, THE TAILBOOM SEPARATING AND THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTING THE GROUND DESTROYING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND STAR FLEX. DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE THE FUEL CELL DRAIN VALVE WAS DAMAGED CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. ON 9-19-02 AN INSPECTION WAS CONDUCTED ON THE HYDAULIC PUMP AND SPLINED COUPLER. THE ALUMINUM COUPLER SHOWED EVIDENCE OF SPLINE SMEARING. FURTHER EXAMINATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE NTSB.

## 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 LAX02FA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02FA281), Sep 12, 2002: Aerospatiale AS350BA (N357NT), Peach Springs, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed and main rotor rpm during the landing approach as prescribed in the hydraulic pump failure emergency procedures found in the rotorcraft flight…

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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