# NTSB ERA26LA026: Eurocopter AS350, N545HF, Wetumpka, AL, October 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 22, 2025, 23:00 local (Oct 23, 2025, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Wetumpka, AL - Coordinates: 32.516667, -86.316667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5167&lon=-86.3167&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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 201935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=8680954), [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: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680954), [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. - [Maneuvering-hover: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=8680954), [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: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=8680954), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and flight instructor were conducting training exercises in a helicopter at night using night vision goggles. The exercises included four autorotation landings from a hover, each initiated about 4 ft above ground level. The pilot reported that during the second autorotation landing, following the flight instructor’s reduction of power, he reacted prematurely and inadvertently increased the helicopter’s height above the ground, which resulted in a hard landing. Unaware that the helicopter had been damaged, the remainder of the training flight was completed uneventfully. The following day, during a preflight inspection, another flight crew discovered substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N545HF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N545HF), registered now, S/N 4123, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS350 (B3) - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b3) (registry code 8680954) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4123 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 8110 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 2B1 747 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Haynes Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Haynes Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 23, 2025, 6 hours before - Departed: Wetumpka, AL - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 08A, Wetumpka Municipal Airport - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Data recorder, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review December 3, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,500 total, 950 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 30; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,671 total, 59 in this make and model, 1,588 as pilot in command, 94 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: MXF, 8 nm away - METAR: METAR KMXF 230355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/08 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP195 T01030081= ## 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 20251022020759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251022020759A), Oct 22, 2025: Eurocopter AS 350 B3, Wetumpka, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing hovering autos with company check airmen on board. Pilot checkride was completed and aircraft returned to base. This is a delayed report… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201935. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19576622&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20ERA26LA026_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� director of operations notification (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20191083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20DO%20Statement%20(1)-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot flying statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20191664&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Pilot%201%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� instructor statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19888615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Pilot%202%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� follow up conversation with dom (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20190856&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20Follow%20Up%20Conversation%20with%20DOM-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 184 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19888675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph%20for%20Docket-Rel.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.