# Accident 20030613036379A: Snias AS350B2, Riverside, CA, June 13, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 13, 2003, 12:45 local time
- Place: Riverside, CA
- Airport: March Afb
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8806° N, 117.2594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8806&lon=-117.2594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6087C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6087C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 ECUREUIL (registry code 8680951, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2-ecureuil) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B2
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,250 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03TA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03TA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030613036379A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE ADMINISTERING AN ANNUAL CHECK RIDE IN AN AS 350 B2 HELICOPTER AS REQUIRED BY THE US CUSTOMS TRAINING PROGRAM, AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT BLOCKED THE ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS DURING TAKE OFF IN ORDER TO SIMULATE A FIXED PITCH PEDAL SETTING. DURING LANDING, THE EXAMINEE FAILED TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE RATE OF DESCENT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND HARD DAMAGING THE TAIL BOOM. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT DEVIATED FROM THE US CUSTOMS STANDING OPERATING PROCEDURES BY SIMULATING A FIXED PITCH PEDAL SETTING WITH A HIGH POWER SETTING. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO PREVENT THE HARD LANDING.

## 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 LAX03TA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03TA204), Jun 13, 2003: Eurocopter France AS 350 B2 (N6087C), Riverside, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flying pilot's failure to align the helicopter during a simulated emergency landing, which resulted in a hard landing and structural damage to the helicopter. A factor associated with 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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