# NTSB FTW82DA150: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N5784Y, Houston, TX, April 26, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 26, 1982, 15:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Coordinates: 30.059015, -95.380783 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0590&lon=-95.3808&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 26, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71088
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71088/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA150

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, landing - flare/touchdown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,fuel control - assembly

## Analysis

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE MANEUVERS IN PREPARATION FOR A PART 135 CHECK RIDE. THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS TO A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 5 FT AG. HE REPORTED THAT ON HIS FOURTH AUTOROTATION, THE ENGINE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED THE POWER RECOVERY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER FELL THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND LANDED HARD. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL AND POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR WERE REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE GOVERNOR WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REVEALED THE PX TRIM BLEED PART WAS OVERSIZE. THE SPECIFICATION CALLED FOR A SIZE #64 TO #68 PART, BUT A #61 PART WAS INSTALLED. ALSO, THERE WAS SOME WEAR ON THE BELLOWS. ACCORDING TO BENDIX CORP, THE OVERSIZE PART AND WEAR WOULD HAVE LEANED THE MIXTURE, BUT WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5784Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5784Y-1989-06-29), registration cancelled 1989-06-29, S/N 1424 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
- Registry model: [S N I A S AS350D ASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/s-n-i-a-s-as350d-astar) (registry code 8680803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1424
- Airframe hours: 80
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101-600A2 531 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Air-Op, Inc.
- Registered owner: Air-Op, Inc.
- Departed: HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: HOUSTON, TX
- Airport: Cypress (Closed), runway 27, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 7,845 total, 71 in this make and model, 2,807 as pilot in command, 222 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 325° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 163 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19820426011399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820426011399A), Apr 26, 1982: Snias AS350D, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot claims during practice autorotation landing, engine failed and aircraft landed hard rolling on side.

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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