# NTSB ERA14CA216: Agusta Aerospace AW119 Mkii, N119HF, Lumberton, NJ, May 1, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 1, 2014, 11:11 local (15:11 UTC)
- Place: Lumberton, NJ
- Coordinates: 39.938888, -74.840835 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9389&lon=-74.8408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89150/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89150
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA216

## Probable cause

The flightcrew's improper recovery from a simulated engine failure after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's failure to clarify who had control of the helicopter.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta Aerospace AW119 MKII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0260105), [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 · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta Aerospace AW119 MKII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0260105), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): lack of communication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta Aerospace AW119 MKII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md?model=0260105), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Agusta Aerospace AW119 MKII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0260105), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight instructor, he gave the pilot under instruction (PUI) a simulated engine failure after takeoff when the helicopter reached approximately 50 knots. The PUI pulled the cyclic aft and increased collective. The flight instructor joined the PUI on the controls to prevent him from pulling too much collective and to lower the helicopter's nose to a level attitude. Both pilots were on the controls as the collective was increased to cushion the landing. The helicopter landed on the paved runway's centerline, and as it slid across what the pilots described as an uneven surface, it began to porpoise. The flight instructor lowered the collective to slow the slide and heard a noise, then the helicopter began vibrate and turned 220 degrees to the right before coming to a stop. During the slide, a main rotor blade cut off the tail boom. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

According to the flight instructor, he gave the pilot under instruction (PUI) a simulated engine failure after takeoff when the helicopter reached approximately 50 knots. The PUI pulled the cyclic aft and increased collective. The flight instructor joined the PUI on the controls to prevent him from pulling too much collective and to lower the helicopter's nose to a level attitude. Both pilots were on the controls as the collective was increased to cushion the landing. The helicopter landed on the paved runway's centerline, and as it slid across what the pilots described as an uneven surface, it began to porpoise. The flight instructor lowered the collective to slow the slide and heard a noise, then the helicopter began vibrate and turned 220 degrees to the right before coming to a stop. During the slide, a main rotor blade cut off the tail boom. Neither pilot reported any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N119HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N119HF-2018-12-10), registration cancelled 2018-12-10, S/N 14719, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AGUSTA AEROSPACE CORP AW119 MKII
- Registry model: [Agusta Aerospace AW119 MKII](https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-aerospace-aw119-mkii) (registry code 0260105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-37A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6b-37a) (registry code 52179, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 14719
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 1511
- Engines: P&W CANADA PT6B-37A 900 horsepower turbo shaft; P&W CANADA PT6B-37A turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Agustawestland Philadelphia Corp
- Registered owner: Agustawestland Philadelphia Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 25, 2014, 29 hours before
- Departed: PNE, Philadelphia, PA
- Destination: VAY, Lumberton, NJ
- Airport: VAY, South Jersey Rgnl, runway 26, 3,881 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 46; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 30, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 5,319 total, 553 in this make and model, 4,600 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 13, 2014; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 6 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: VAY

## 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 20140501006079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140501006079A), May 1, 2014: Agusta Aerospace Corp AW119 MKII, Mount Holly, NJ, Substantial damage. CFI employed by augusta helicopter was conducting a initial qualification training flight performed a simulated engine out on take off when attaining a 50 kt…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 11, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89150. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilots’ Statements (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%E2%80%99%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 – Wreckage (Courtesy of NJ DOT) (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40413232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20NJ%20DOT)%0D%0A-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.

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