# NTSB CEN14CA252: Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 Dauphin, N365WM, Constantine, MI, May 25, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2014, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Constantine, MI - Coordinates: 41.8325, -85.668334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8325&lon=-85.6683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89279/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89279 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control while entering a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=8680815), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680815), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8680815), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Settling with power/vortex ring state](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md?model=8680815), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/244/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he positioned the helicopter to land on a westerly heading with the light and variable wind from the west. About 200 feet above the ground he noticed that the helicopter was descending so he increased the collective to arrest the rate of descent. The torque gage was increasing from 50% to 60%. He lowered the collective in attempt to get into clean air and then pulled back on the cyclic to arrest the forward airspeed. The pilot attempted to control the helicopter to the ground, maintain an upright attitude, and avoid obstacles. The helicopter landed hard and bounced once before it came to rest in the parking lot. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A video of the accident sequence was reviewed and matched the pilot's statement. The video did not reveal any anomalies with the helicopter or the engine sounds. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right fuselage and lower right vertical stabilizer. The video evidence and pilot statement are consistent with the helicopter entering a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition, which allowed the helicopter to descend more rapidly than expected and land hard. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he positioned the helicopter to land on a westerly heading with the light and variable wind from the west. About 200 feet above the ground he noticed that the helicopter was descending so he increased the collective to arrest the rate of descent. The torque gage was increasing from 50% to 60%. He lowered the collective in attempt to get into clean air and then pulled back on the cyclic to arrest the forward airspeed. The helicopter continued to descend quickly so the pilot attempted to control the helicopter to the ground, maintain an upright attitude, and avoid obstacles. The helicopter landed hard and bounced once before it came to rest in the parking lot. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A video of the accident sequence was reviewed. The video captured the helicopter as it approached the landing zone, made a right descending turn and then hover taxied over the landing zone. As the helicopter continued to descend, the rate of descent increased. The helicopter continued to the ground where it landed hard and bounced one time. It came to rest upright in the parking lot. The video did not reveal any anomalies with the helicopter or engine sounds. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right fuselage and lower right vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N365WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N365WM-2015-06-26), registration cancelled 2015-06-26, S/N 6429, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-365-n2-dauphin) (registry code 8680815) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6429 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 6782 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 738 horsepower turbo shaft; Turbomeca Arriel 1C2 738 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: West Michigan Air Care Inc - Registered owner: West Michigan Air Care - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, March 6, 2014, 46 hours before - Departed: 9MI9, KALAMAZOO, MI - Destination: Constantine, MI - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,268 total, 130 in this make and model, 1,286 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KHAI, 8 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 20140525006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140525006799A), May 25, 2014: Aerospatiale AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN, Constantine, MI, Substantial damage. While approaching the high school parking lot being used in this case as a landing site to pick up a patient, upon reaching treetop level the descent rate… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89279. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413205&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413207&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Video of accident sequence (item 3, .PDF, 99 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413210&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%20of%20accident%20sequence-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Main Wreckage from Right (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413208&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Main%20Wreckage%20from%20Right%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.