# NTSB DFW06CA062: Eurocopter France AS-350-B2, N911ES, Port Isabel, TX, January 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 26, 2006, 10:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Port Isabel, TX - Coordinates: 31.550495, -98.050254 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5505&lon=-98.0503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 63168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63168/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA062 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain rotor RPM and his improper touchdown during a simulated hovering autorotation. A contributing factor was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - touchdown - improper, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - misc rotorcraft,tail boom - bent ## Analysis The 5,591-hour helicopter flight instructor reported that he was on the second day of training of a newly hired 10,000-hour commercial helicopter rated pilot. After the pilot's first landing on Runway 03 (4,999-feet long by 150-feet wide asphalt-concrete runway), the flight instructor asked the pilot to perform an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) takeoff (as described in the company's operations manual), and then enter the local traffic pattern. The flight instructor stated that the EMS takeoff procedure began by the pilot bringing the helicopter to a three to five foot hover in order to conduct a power check prior to the application of takeoff power. While the helicopter was at a hover, the flight instructor initiated a hovering autorotation; the pilot immediately applied forward cyclic, and then pulled up on the collective. The flight instructor considered the pilot's flight control inputs to be excessive, resulting in a high sink rate and an undesirable helicopter attitude for touchdown. The instructor immediately took control of the helicopter and brought it back to a level attitude in an attempt to cushion the landing. The flight instructor stated that the main rotor RPM was low and most of the collective had been used to prevent a nose low impact. The helicopter then descended approximately one to two feet, impacting terrain in a level attitude and then bounced forward approximately four feet. ## Factual narrative The 5,591-hour helicopter flight instructor reported he was on the second day of training of a newly hired 10,000-hour commercial helicopter rated pilot. After the pilot's first landing on Runway 03 (4,999-feet long by 150-feet wide asphalt-concrete runway), the flight instructor asked the pilot to perform an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) takeoff (as described in the company's operations manual), and then enter the local traffic pattern. The flight instructor stated that the EMS takeoff procedure began by the pilot bringing the helicopter to a three to five foot hover in order to conduct a power check prior to the application of takeoff power. While the helicopter was at a hover, the flight instructor initiated a hovering autorotation; the pilot immediately applied forward cyclic, and then pulled up on the collective. The flight instructor considered the pilot's flight control inputs to be excessive, resulting in a high sink rate and an undesirable helicopter attitude for touchdown. The instructor immediately took control of the helicopter and brought it back to a level attitude in an attempt to cushion the landing. The flight instructor stated that the main rotor RPM was low and most of the collective had been used to prevent a nose low impact. The helicopter then descended approximately one to two feet, impacting terrain in a level attitude and then bounced forward approximately four feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N911ES](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N911ES-2022-11-01), registration cancelled 2022-11-01, S/N 2665, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter France AS-350-B2 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2665 - Airframe hours: 5997 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 712 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Frederick A. Rappleyea Jr. - Registered owner: Metro Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 1, 2006 - Departed: 78TS, Harlingen, TX - Destination: KPIL, Port Isabel, TX - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KPIL, Port Isabel - Cameron County, runway 03, 4,999 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 5,591 total, 1,671 in this make and model, 5,479 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 10,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KPIL ## 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 20060126001819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060126001819A), Jan 26, 2006: Snias AS350B2, Port Isabel, TX, Minor damage. (-23) During a training flight in the landing phase, the aircraft experienced a hard landing due to improper flight control inputs by the pilot being trained.… ## Other investigations on N911ES (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 ERA14CA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA009), Oct 20, 2013: Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (N911ES), Madison, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter's collision with a black vulture during climb to cruise altitude. 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.