# NTSB ERA09CA367: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, N106HN, Morgantown, WV, June 24, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2009, 00:30 local (04:30 UTC) - Place: Morgantown, WV - Coordinates: 39.642776, -79.916114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6428&lon=-79.9161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74132 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA367 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74132/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74132 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA367 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the practice hovering autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in night vision goggle helicopter operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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 About 1.5 hours after beginning an introductory instructional flight in the use of night vision goggles (NVGs), the pilot and the flight instructor returned to the airport to practice autorotations from a hover. After establishing the helicopter in a 3-foot hover, the flight instructor moved the fuel flow control lever toward the idle cutoff position. The pilot responded by increasing collective pitch, and the helicopter began to ascend, and as a result, the rotor rpm decayed. The flight instructor attempted to apply corrective action, but the pilot physically resisted his efforts. The helicopter descended rapidly to the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot noted that during the maneuver, he had misjudged the helicopter’s height above the ground, due to the decreased peripheral vision afforded by the NVGs. This was the pilot’s first flight operating with NVGs. ## Factual narrative About 1.5 hours after beginning an introductory instructional flight in the use of night vision goggles (NVGs), the pilot and the flight instructor returned to the airport to practice autorotations from a hover. After establishing the helicopter in a 3-foot hover, the flight instructor moved the fuel flow control lever toward the idle cutoff position. The pilot responded by increasing collective pitch, and the helicopter began to ascend, and as a result, the rotor rpm decayed. The flight instructor attempted to apply corrective action, but the pilot physically resisted his efforts. The helicopter descended rapidly to the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot noted that during the maneuver, he had misjudged the helicopter’s height above the ground, due to the decreased peripheral vision afforded by the NVGs. This was the pilot’s first flight operating with NVGs. ## Aircraft - Registration: N106HN (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2 - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2818 - Airframe hours: 8113 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1SER 681 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Air Methods Corporation Inc. - Registered owner: Ge Business Financial Services Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 23, 2009 - Departed: MGW, Morgantown, WV - Destination: MGW, Morgantown, WV - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: MGW, Morgantown Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, private, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 8,869 total, 650 in this make and model, 4,947 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; private, flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 2,664 total, 147 in this make and model, 2,492 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74132. 745 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 745 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.