20090813016199A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Euroco AS 350 B2 · Lancaster, CA · August 13, 2009

Date: August 13, 2009 · 12:24 local
Place: Lancaster, CA
Airport: General Wm J Fox Airfield
Phase of flight: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N217LA
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR09GA397
Reported as: Euroco AS350B2
Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,500 total0 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days

N217LARegistration cancelled Jan 20, 2010 · Eurocopter AS 350 B2S/N 3311 · Built 2000 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1SERTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On August 13, 2009 an lapd air support division helicopter was performing auto rotation training at fox field Lancaster, CA. N217LA a Eurocopter AS-350B-2 was performing auto rotations with a lapd instructor pilot and two pilots on board. N217LA was observed in a low sweeping left base turn while performing auto rotation to the selected landing area. N217LA experienced a hard landing during the auto rotation crushing the skids, destroying the helicopter and inducing spinal injuries to the three aircrew on board.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON AUGUST 13, 2009 AN LAPD AIR SUPPORT DIVISION HELICOPTER WAS PERFORMING AUTO ROTATION TRAINING AT FOX FIELD LANCASTER, CA. N217LA A EUROCOPTER AS-350B-2 WAS PERFORMING AUTO ROTATIONS WITH A LAPD INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND TWO PILOTS ON BOARD. N217LA WAS OBSERVED IN A LOW SWEEPING LEFT BASE TURN WHILE PERFORMING AUTO ROTATION TO THE SELECTED LANDING AREA. N217LA EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING DURING THE AUTO ROTATION CRUSHING THE SKIDS, DESTROYING THE HELICOPTER AND INDUCING SPINAL INJURIES TO THE THREE AIRCREW ON BOARD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR09GA397Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportLancaster, CAThe pilots’ decision to conduct a practice autorotation at low altitude in high density altitude conditions and their failure to attain and maintain an appropriate descent rate. Contributing to the accident was the high density altitude and the pilots’…Aug 13, 2009 · Substantial damage