# Accident 20130608014939A: Eurocopter EC 130 B4, Valle, AZ, June 8, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 8, 2013, 09:30 local time
- Place: Valle, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: PG9A
- Location: 35.6506° N, 112.1478° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6506&lon=-112.1478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N130PH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N130PH-2018-02-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (registry code 8680989, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1 (registry code 60056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER EC 130 B4
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,713 total, 501 in this make and model, 131 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA266) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130608014939A

## Narrative

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

ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY INSTRUCTOR HE HAD DEMONSTRATED A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE WITH AN INTENDED POWER RECOVERY. THIS PROCEDURE INVOLVED ROLLING THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP TO THE GROUND IDLE POSITION. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, THE INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED A POWER RECOVERY BY ROLLING THE TWIST GRIP TO THE FLIGHT POSITION. THE INSTRUCTOR NOTED THAT THE TWIST GRIP WOULD NOT MOVE AND WAS STUCK IN THE GROUND IDLE POSITION. THE INSTRUCTOR VERIFIED THAT THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION WAS NOT HOLDING THE CONTROLS. AS A RESULT, A FULL DOWN AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED IN WHICH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT OCCURRED. THE DAMAGE INCLUDED  MAIN ROTOR BLADE TRAILING EDGE DELAMINATION, A SEVERED STAR FLEX ARM, AND SEPARATION OF THE FENESTRON ASSEMBLY.   NO INJURIES OR POST CRASH FIRE WAS REPORTED.

POST ACCIDENT, BOTH THE INSTRUCTOR AND PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION ATTEMPTED TO ROLL THE TWIST GRIP TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION. ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR, THE TWIST GRIP WOULD ONLY MOVE 1/4 OF AN INCH AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION. THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION STATED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO ROLL THE TWIST GRIP TO THE FLIGHT POSITION EVEN AFTER SUBSTANTIAL FORCE WAS APPLIED.

## 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 WPR13LA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA266), Jun 8, 2013: Eurocopter EC 130 B4 (N130PH), Grand Canyon, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of throttle control movement during a practice autorotation that was planned to terminate with a power recovery for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did…

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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