# NTSB LAX90LA341: Aerospatiale AS350B, N700TV, Cloverdale, CA, September 21, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1990, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Cloverdale, CA
- Coordinates: 38.780166, -122.919532 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7802&lon=-122.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26936
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA341
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26936/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA341

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER PROCEDURE EMPLOYED BY THE STUDENT PILOT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE CFI TO ADEQUATELY GUARD THE FLIGHT CONTROLS TO APPLY TIMELY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - autorotation - improper, dual student (cause)
  - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AN AEROSPATIALE AS350B HELICOPTER LANDED HARD WHILE PRACTICING HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. THE CFI INDICATED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ON THE CONTROLS AND ABRUPTLY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL DURING THE LAST HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE CFI ALSO INDICATED THAT HE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY GUARD THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL DURING THE LAST HOVERING AUTOROTATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N700TV (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350B
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1838
- Airframe hours: 1756
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1B 641 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Resort Aviation
- Registered owner: Iats
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Departed: 209, CLEAR LAKE, CA
- Airport: O60, Cloverdale

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,532 total, 81 in this make and model, 3,237 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19900921044119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900921044119A), Sep 21, 1990: Snias AS350B, Cloverdale, CA, Substantial damage. During hovering autorotation student abruptly lowered collective. Helicopter landed hard. Damaged tailboom.

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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