20110223002579A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Eurocopter AS 350 B2 · Riverside, CA · February 23, 2011

Date: February 23, 2011 · 16:20 local
Place: Riverside, CA
Airport: March Arb
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N965SD
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR11GA144
Reported as: Eurocopter AS 350 B2
Reported engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,728 total4,276 in this make and model43 in the last 90 days

N965SDRegistration cancelled Jul 1, 2011 · Eurocopter AS 350 B2S/N 3626 · Built 2002 Airframe modelEurocopter AS 350 B2 Engine modelTurbomeca ARRIEL-1D1Turbo-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.

N965SD departed long beach airport, CA. Direct to March Arb CA. For training. During a maximum performance take-off, at 20 feet AGL, the CFI activated a hydraulic test that simulates a hydraulic failure. Neither the trainee nor the CFI responded in time to prevent the left spin that ensued until the aircraft impacted the ground. There were no injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

As the FAA filed it

N965SD DEPARTED LONG BEACH AIRPORT, CA. DIRECT TO MARCH ARB CA. FOR TRAINING. DURING A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKE-OFF, AT 20 FEET AGL, THE CFI ACTIVATED A HYDRAULIC TEST THAT SIMULATES A HYDRAULIC FAILURE. NEITHER THE TRAINEE NOR THE CFI RESPONDED IN TIME TO PREVENT THE LEFT SPIN THAT ENSUED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

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 WPR11GA144Accident · Minor injuriesFinal reportRiverside, CAThe failure of both pilots to follow proper procedures during a simulated hydraulic emergency that resulted in a loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.Feb 24, 2011 · Substantial damage