# NTSB DEN89FA197: Aerospatiale AS350D, N3596G, Carson City, NV, August 21, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1989, 13:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place: Carson City, NV
- Coordinates: 39.140407, -119.710968 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1404&lon=-119.7110&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 3 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17603
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89FA197
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17603/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89FA197

## Probable cause

A FAILURE OF THE GAS GENERATOR TURBINE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN WHICH THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - turboshaft engine,gas generator turbine - failure,total (cause)
  - fuel system,nozzle - other (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - residential area (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,seat belt - sheared
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer

## Analysis

WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO A STREET. DUE TO LANDING AREA CONSTRAINTS, THE AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED WITH A 30 KNOT TAIL WIND COMPONENT, WHICH CAUSED A HARD LANDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN. FIVE PERSONS WERE ABOARD AND ONE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO BEING EJECTED FROM THE HELICOPTER, WHEN HIS SEATBELT FAILED. THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE GP TURBINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3596G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350D
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1110
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-600-A 615 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Aris Helicopters
- Departed: RNO, RENO, NV
- Destination: BODIE, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 4,665 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 4,580 as pilot in command, 274 in the last 90 days, 117 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: RNO, 30 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 19890821030769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890821030769A), Aug 21, 1989: Snias AS350D, Carson City, NV, Substantial damage. Engine showed overtemp. Lost power,autorotated to city street. Downwind,hard,fast landing. Gp turbine over tempted.

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.

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