# NTSB FTW85FA282: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N3594N, Matagorda Islng, LA, July 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1985, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Matagorda Islng, LA
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21561
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21561/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA282

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flare - reduced, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - minimum descent altitude - disregarded, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD DURING AN ATTEMPTED AUTOROTATION TO AN ABANDONED AIR BASE. INITIAL TOUCHDOWN OCCURRED ON THE STINGER AND THE ACFT YAWED TO THE LEFT OF RWY HEADING 30 TO 40 DEGREES. THE NEXT TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE SKIDS AND THE ACFT YAWED FURTHER TO THE LEFT TO APRX 45 DEGREES. FOLLOWING THIS, THE ACFT ROLLED OVER. NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT COULD BE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3594N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3594N-1988-11-30), registration cancelled 1988-11-30, S/N 1093 (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: 1093
- Airframe hours: 3996
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS 101 600A 590 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Petroleum Helicopters Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, June 22, 1985, 176 hours before
- Departed: MATAGORDA 623, GM
- Destination: PORT OCONNER, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: Matagorda Island, runway 20, 6,000 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,610 total, 141 in this make and model, 1,476 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VCT

## 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 19850711030579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850711030579A), Jul 11, 1985: Snias AS350D, Matagorda Islan, TX, Destroyed. Aircraft impacted ground during apparent autorotation practice. Pilot was new to the type of aircraft.

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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