# Accident 20091022022229A: Snias AS350B3, Tucson, AZ, October 22, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 22, 2009, 09:15 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Marana Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.5097° N, 111.3253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5097&lon=-111.3253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N105LN, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N105LN-2010-10-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (registry code 8680954, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIUS-2B1 (registry code 60015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arrius-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNIAS AS350B3
- Reported engine: TMECA ARRIEL2B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 43 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA028) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091022022229A

## Narrative

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

MR. TEEB WAS GIVING ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A CHECK RIDE FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD IN SEPTEMBER, 2009.  AFTER 30 MINUTES OF MANEUVERS, MR. STEEB BRIEFED, AND THEN INSTRUCTED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TO PERFORM A HOVERING AUTOROTATION.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THEN PROCEEDED TO BRING AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER 3-5' WHILE MR. STEEB REMINDED HIM THAT HE WANTED HIM TO RETARD THROTTLE.  AIRCRAFT THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIFT UP TO APPROXIMATELY 9'.  AS THIS TOOK PLACE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RETARDED THE THROTTLE WHICH ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND TO APPROXIMATELY 4".  AT THIS TIME, BOTH PILOTS PULLED THE COLLECTIVE UP AND AIRCRAFT THEN EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING.  MR. STEEB THEN EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO SURVEY DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT TO WHICH HE FOUND NONE.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND MR. STEEB THEN CONTINUED TO PERFORM TWO ADDITIONAL HOVERING AUTO ROTATIONS THEN RETURNED TO OPERATOR'S FACILITY.  MR. STEEB THEN ASKED A MECHANIC FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE HARD LANDING, WHERE THE MECHANICS IDENTIFED DAMAGE (WRINKLE IN SKIN) TO THE TAILBOOM.

## 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 WPR10CA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA028), Oct 22, 2009: Eurocopter AS 350 B3 (N105LN), Marana, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper use of the throttle by the pilot receiving instruction, and the check pilot's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action, which resulted in the collision with terrain.

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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