# NTSB LAX00LA195: Eurocopter AS350B2, N851HW, Mesa, AZ, May 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2000, 13:34 local (20:34 UTC) - Place: Mesa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.439403, -111.850334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4394&lon=-111.8503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 28, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49176/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA195 ## Probable cause the instructor pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) ## Analysis The flight instructor was giving flight instruction to a new-hire pilot in preparation for his 14 CFR Part 135 check ride. Another new-hire pilot was seated in the back to observe the training. The pilot trainee was performing a hydraulics-off, run-on landing. As the student approached the touchdown point the instructor reminded him to keep his airspeed up. He reported that just prior to touchdown, the aircraft controls became very stiff. At that point, the flight instructor directed the pilot trainee to re-engage the hydraulics isolation switch on the collective control. The student re-engaged the hydraulics but reported that the controls remained stiff and he was having difficulty applying forward cyclic. As the instructor got on the controls it started a slow turn to the left. As the instructor attempted to counteract the turn rate increased. The helicopter impacted the ground in a left turn with rear lateral movement. The landing gear skids collapsed. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2000, at 1334 hours mountain standard time, a Eurocopter AS350B2, N851HW, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona. The helicopter was being operated by Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Provo, Utah, as an instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial rated certified flight instructor, commercial rated pilot trainee, and commercial rated passenger were not injured. The local area flight originated at Falcon Field at an unspecified time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight instructor reported that he was giving flight instruction to a new-hire pilot in preparation for his 14 CFR Part 135 check ride. Another new-hire pilot was seated in the back to observe the training. The pilot trainee was performing a hydraulics-off, run-on landing. As the student approached the touchdown point the instructor reminded him to keep his airspeed up. He reported that just prior to touchdown, the aircraft controls became very stiff. At that point, the flight instructor directed the pilot trainee to re-engage the hydraulics isolation switch on the collective control. The student re-engaged the hydraulics but reported that the controls remained stiff and he was having difficulty applying forward cyclic. As the instructor got on the controls it started a slow turn to the left. As the instructor attempted to counteract the turn rate increased. The helicopter impacted the ground in a left turn with rear lateral movement. The landing gear skids collapsed. The operator, Rocky Mountain Helicopters, failed to respond to several attempts by the Safety Board to file an aircraft accident report, form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N851HW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N851HW-2008-05-14), registration cancelled 2008-05-14, S/N 2622, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter AS350B2 - Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2622 - Airframe hours: 4595 - Engines: Turbomeca ARRIEL 1B1 529 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Rocky Mountain Helicopters - Registered owner: American Eurocopter Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 15, 2000, 23 hours before - Departed: FFZ, AZ - Airport: FFZ, Falcon ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,800 total, 4,500 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FFZ ## 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 20000511008029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000511008029A), May 11, 2000: Snias AS350B2, Mesa, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Instructor was giving flight instruction to a new hire in preparation for his part 135 ck ride. The student was performing a hydraulic off run on… 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.