# NTSB CEN14CA367: American Eurocopter AS350B3, N350GP, Grand Praire, TX, July 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2014, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Praire, TX - Coordinates: 32.7, -97.048057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7000&lon=-97.0481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89671 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA367 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89671/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89671 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA367 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision during a practice autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's hard landing during a practice autorotation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Emergency descent: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight was scheduled as recurrent training in helicopters; the foreign rated pilot was accompanied by a flight instructor, and an interpreter and observer who were seated in the back seats. After a series of maneuvers, the foreign pilot conducted a hovering autorotation, following directions from the flight instructor which were translated by the interpreter. During the autorotation, the helicopter yawed slightly right and settled to the ground. The instructor and observer noted that the landing did not feel that hard, but more like a firm or rough landing. The training flight continued with several other autorotations. During a post flight inspection of the helicopter, several wrinkles were found in the tail boom of the helicopter. Further examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom had sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The flight was scheduled as recurrent training in helicopters; the foreign rated pilot was accompanied by a flight instructor, and an interpreter and observer who were seated in the back seats. After a series of maneuvers, the foreign pilot conducted a hovering autorotation, following directions from the flight instructor which were translated by the interpreter. During the autorotation, the helicopter yawed slightly right and settled to the ground. The instructor and observer noted that the landing did not feel that hard, but more like a firm or rough landing. The training flight continued with several other autorotations. During a post flight inspection of the helicopter, several wrinkles were found in the tail boom of the helicopter. Further examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom had sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: N350GP (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 7240 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 359 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2D turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airbus Helicopters Inc - Registered owner: Airbus Helicopters Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 14, 2014 - Departed: KGPM, Grand Praire, TX - Destination: KGPM, Grand Praire, TX - Airport: KGPM, Grand Prairie Manicipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,752 total, 192 in this make and model, 7,185 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; foreign; medical: unknown; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89671. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416001&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Crew Statements (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Crew%20Statements-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.