# Accident 20210915015759A: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Romeo, MI, September 15, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2021, 10:50 local time
- Place: Romeo, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7963° N, 82.9743° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7963&lon=-82.9743&mi=10
- Aircraft: N632SD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N632SD) (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: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 3,760 total, 55 in this make and model, 31 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA431) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210915015759A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT N632SD, AN AIRBUS AS350 B2 ROTORCRAFT, EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING AND BLADE STRIKE/SUDDEN STOPPAGE DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WHILE PERFORMING A 180-DEGREE AUTOROTATION. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED HE EXPLAINED THE AUTOROTATION PROCEDURE TO THE STUDENT, PICKED THE LANDING SPOT AND POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE MANEUVER. THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL LEVER WAS MOVED FROM THE FLIGHT DETENT, REDUCING ENGINE SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 70% NG, SIMULATING AN ENGINE FAILURE.  DURING DESCENT, THE FUEL CONTROL LEVER WAS THEN MOVED BACK TOWARD THE FLIGHT DETENT.  AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70 FEET AGL THE COLLECTIVE WAS PULLED TO INCREASE PITCH AND STOP THE DESCENT OF THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 FEET FROM THE GROUND. DURING THIS TIME THE ROTOR LOW RPM WARNING WAS SOUNDING AND THE ROTOR SPEED CONTINUED TO DECREASE, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT FAILING TO COME TO A HOVER AS INTENDED AND CONTACTING THE GROUND.   THE INSTRUCTOR NOTICED THE FUEL CONTROL LEVER WAS NOT IN THE FLIGHT DETENT.    UPON IMPACT WITH THE GROUND THE BLUE M/R BLADE CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT AND M/R STARFLEX. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUTDOWN WITH NO FURTHER DAMAGE.  NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. AFTER NOTIFYING THE FAA OF THE INCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO A HANGAR LOCATED ON THE FIELD UTILIZING THE APPROVED HANDLING WHEELS.

## 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 CEN21LA431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA431), Sep 15, 2021: Eurocopter AS350 (N632SD), Romeo, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to reposition the fuel control to the flight detent during a practice autorotation, which resulted in insufficient engine power to arrest the helicopter’s decent and a…

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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