# NTSB LAX83FA096: Aerospatiale AS 350 Astar, N3605T, Pacoima, CA, February 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1983, 11:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Pacoima, CA
- Coordinates: 34.24966, -118.410926 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2497&lon=-118.4109&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23424
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23424/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA096

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - torquemeter system - failure,partial (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED THE TAIL BOOM DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT STATED THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL ENGINE TORQUE AND TEMPERATURE LIMITING DEVICE AND THIS FLT WAS TO COLLECT DATA CONCERNING ITS OPERATION. THIS DEVICE MALFUNCTIONED AND AN UNCOMMANDED ENGINE SHUTDOWN OCCURRED AT 800 FT AGL. THE ACFT LANDED HARD ON THE SKID HEEL, ROCKED FORWARDED AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT AFTER TRAVELING 105 FT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3605T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS 350 ASTAR (AS 350 AST)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1227
- Airframe hours: 700
- Engines: LYCOMING LTS-010-600A2 615 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: M.S. Moore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BUR, BURBANK, CA
- Airport: WHP, Whiteman

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 54 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 10 nm away

## 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 19830209005189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830209005189A), Feb 9, 1983: Snias AS350*, Los Angeles, CA, Substantial damage. The helicopter autorotated to a hard landing after engine failure. An experimental torque temp device malfunctioned

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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