# NTSB CEN14CA016: American Eurocopter AS350B3, N1CR, Eagle Pass, TX, October 23, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 23, 2013, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Eagle Pass, TX - Coordinates: 28.620555, -100.156387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6206&lon=-100.1564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, American Eurocopter Corporation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88292 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA016 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88292/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88292 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA016 ## Probable cause The abnormal contact of the helicopter's skids with the landing surface, which resulted in a rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The instructor pilot provided instruction to the private pilot and conducted practice autorotation landings. The instructor pilot demonstrated an autorotation and during the landing the helicopter slid on the skids for about 10-15 feet before the skids dug into the soft landing surface. The helicopter began to pitch nose down so both pilots applied aft cyclic and up collective. The helicopter continued to pitch nose down when the main rotor impacted the ground, which resulted in the helicopter rolling on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom. The instructor pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The instructor pilot provided instruction to the private pilot and conducted practice autorotation landings. The instructor pilot demonstrated an autorotation and during the landing the helicopter slid on the skids for about 10-15 feet before the skids dug into the soft landing surface. The helicopter began to pitch nose down so both pilots applied aft cyclic and up collective. The helicopter continued to pitch nose down when the main rotor impacted the ground, which resulted in the helicopter rolling on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom. The instructor pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N1CR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3 (B3e) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7316 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 192 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2D turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Friedkin Companies Inc - Registered owner: Friedkin Companies Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 21, 2013 - Departed: 5TE0, Eagle Pass, TX - Destination: 5TE0, Eagle Pass, TX - Airport: 5TE0, Comanche Ranch - Equipment: Video recording device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,536 total, 160 in this make and model, 6,969 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2013; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 428 total, 363 in this make and model, 390 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KUVA, 41 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20131023021819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131023021819A), Oct 23, 2013: American Eurocopter Corp AS350B3, Eagle Pass, TX, Substantial damage. Pilots were performing touchdown autorotation training to a grass surface. Rated pilot receiving instruction performed a touchdown autorotation. Following the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88292. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (2 forms) (item 1, .PDF, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(2%20forms)-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402927&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.