# Accident 20170927024719A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Fullerton, CA, September 27, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 27, 2017, 10:05 local time
- Place: Fullerton, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8719° N, 117.9797° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8719&lon=-117.9797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N515ET, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N515ET-2019-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (registry code 8680950, https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1 (registry code 60053, https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Reported engine: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA562](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA562) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170927024719A

## Narrative

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

THIS WAS A PUBLIC USE OPERATION AS DETERMINED BY THE NTSB.

DURING AN ANNUAL CHECK RIDE FOR A DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION PILOT AT FULLERTON AIRPORT IN CALIFORNIA, AN AIRBUS AS-350B2 HELICOPTER CRASHED ONTO RUNWAY 24.

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND THE STANDARDIZATION PILOT GIVING THE CHECK BRIEFED A SIMULATED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. WHILE EXECUTING THE PROCEDURE, THEY PROCEEDED LOW AND SLOW OVER RUNWAY 24 AT FULLERTON, LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. THE CRASH CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM AND AIRFRAME.

IN 2014, AIRBUS HELICOPTERS PUBLISHED A SAFETY NOTICE (NO. 2630-S-29) STATING THAT RECENT ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED DURING HYDRAULIC FAILURE TRAINING LED THEM TO RELEASE THE NOTICE AS A REMINDER TO COMPLY WITH THE "CAUTION" IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.

THE CAUTION REQUIRES THAT NO HOVER FLIGHT OR MANEUVERS AT LOW SPEED BE PERFORMED IN THE CONFIGURATION REQUIRED FOR THE HYDRAULIC FAILURE TRAINING. IN THAT FLIGHT CONFIGURATION, THE INTENSITY AND DIRECTION OF THE LOAD RETURN FROM THE MAIN ROTOR THROUGH THE CONTROLS "MAY RAPIDLY CHANGE AND GENERATE A SIGNIFICANT WORKLOAD FOR THE PILOT, THUS CAUSING A RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER".

IT IS OF MY OPINION THAT DURING EXECUTION OF THE HYDRAULIC FAILURE TRAINING, THE CREW OF THE AS-350B2 MANEUVERED AT AN AIRSPEED WHICH WAS TOO LOW AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AS DESCRIBED BY THE AIRBUS SAFETY INFORMATION NOTICE.

## 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 GAA17CA562](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA562), Sep 27, 2017: Eurocopter AS 350 (N515ET), Fullerton, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot under evaluation’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a simulated hydraulic failure, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was the check…

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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