# Accident 20090813016199A: Euroco AS350B2, Lancaster, CA, August 13, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 13, 2009, 12:24 local time
- Place: Lancaster, CA
- Airport: General Wm J Fox Airfield
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.7408° N, 118.2186° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7408&lon=-118.2186&mi=10
- Aircraft: N217LA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N217LA-2010-01-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER (registry code 60030, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCO AS350B2
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09GA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09GA397) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090813016199A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 WPR09GA397](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09GA397), Aug 13, 2009: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N217LA), Lancaster, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

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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