# Accident 20040701017649A: Snias AS350B2, Scottsdale, AZ, July 1, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2004, 13:35 local time
- Place: Scottsdale, AZ
- Airport: Scottsdale Municipal Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7006° N, 111.9419° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7006&lon=-111.9419&mi=10
- Aircraft: N513TS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N513TS-2007-01-23) (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
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1D1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040701017649A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AS-350-B2 HELICOPTER, N513TS, LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL TO THE DOWN POSITION FOR DESCENT. THE COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL REMAINED IN THE DOWN POSITION WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ARREST THE DESCENT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED DESCENT TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS ONLY ABLE TO REDUCE THE DESCENT RATE BY APPLYING AFT CYCLIC CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER TAIL SKID TOUCHED DOWN ON THE GROUND SMOOTHLY. IT LEFT ONLY A VERY SHALLOW SKID MARK IN THE SOFT DIRT. THE LANDING GEAR SKIDS IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND 66 FEET BEYOND THE POINT WHERE THE TAIL SKID INITIALLY TOUCHED THE GROUND. THE LANDING GEAR SKIDS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE IMPACTED WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE COLLECTIVE DOWN LATCH BECAME ENGAGED DURING FLIGHT.

## 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 LAX04LA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA254), Jul 1, 2004: Eurocopter AS-350-B2 (N513TS), Scottsdale, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: Inadvertent in-flight engagement of the collective down lock, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and ground impact. The collective down lock engagement was caused by the improper installation…

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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