# Accident 20030430012779A: Snias AS350B3, Napa, CA, April 30, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 30, 2003, 19:20 local time
- Place: Napa, CA
- Airport: Napa County Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Sfl Autorotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: CH0M
- Location: 38.2131° N, 122.2806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2131&lon=-122.2806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N341HP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N341HP-2025-11-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2B series (registry code 60013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B3
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL2B
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,394 total, 3,283 in this make and model, 191 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03GA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03GA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030430012779A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 4/30/2003 @ 1920 HRS., DURING AUTOROTATION TRAINING, THE INSTALLED TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2 ENGINE EXPERIENCED AN OVERSPEED. MR. BAKKER STATED THAT DURING THE MANEUVER, HE ROLLED THE THROTTLE ON AND NOTICED THE ROTOR RPM INCREASED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND WENT COMPLETELY OFF SCALE. AT THAT TIME MR. BAKKER STATED HE IMMEDIATELY ROLLED THE THROTTLE BACK IN THE OFF DIRECTION. THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED RUNWAY 24. THE APC TOWER NOTIFIED MR. BAKKER OF A FIRE ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE THREE HELICOPTER OCCUPANTS EVACUATED THE HELICOPTER WITH NO INJURIES. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE POWER TURBINE SECTION OF THE ENGINE HAD OCCURED. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPED TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION. (-23 AMENDMENT) THIS REPORT IS AMENDED TO CHANGE THE STATUS FROM INCIDENT TO ACCIDENT. AFTER REVIEW OF MORE DETAILED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE DAMAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT, IT IS NECESSARY TO CLASSIFY THIS EVENT AS AN ACCIDENT.

## 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 LAX03GA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03GA145), May 1, 2003: Eurocopter France AS350B3 (N341HP), Napa, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot under instruction's inadvertent activation of the collective manual fuel slide lock, which led to engine and main rotor overspeeds due to excessive fuel flow during power application. This…

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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