# NTSB NYC89FA089: Aerospatiale AS-350D, N5793P, Spring Valley, NY, February 22, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 22, 1989, 11:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Spring Valley, NY - Coordinates: 41.11988, -74.049728 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1199&lon=-74.0497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 10, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36272/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA089 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE FAA FLIGHT EXAMINER (F/E) TO FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE AUTOROTATION, AND IMPROPER REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: LACK OF INFORMATION IN THE FLIGHT MANUAL CONCERNING AUTOROTATIONS, THE FLIGHT EXAMINER'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE SOFT TERRAIN AND MOUND OF DIRT (DIRT BANK) IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - flight manuals - information insufficient, manufacturer (contributing factor) - autorotation - initiated - procedures/directives - not followed, check pilot (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, check pilot (contributing factor) - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PIC & AN FAA EXAMINER (F/E) WERE ON A PART 135 CHECK FLT. ABT 900' TO 1000' AGL, THE F/E INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION (A/R) WITH INTENTIONS OF A PWR RECOVERY, ALTHO NO PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING PWR RECOVERY FM AN A/R WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FLT MANUAL (F/M). HE INITIATED THE A/R BY MOVG THE FUEL FLOW CONTROL/POWER LEVER (FFC) OUT OF THE FULL FWD (PWR LOCKED) PSN. AT ABT 400' AGL & 65 KTS, THE FFC WAS PSND BACK TO THE FULL FWD (DETENT) PSN. AT ABT 65' AGL, THE PIC INITIATED A FLARE WITH COLLECTIVE PITCH CTL, BUT THE ENG LACKED RESPONSE. THE PIC CONTD THE A/R TO TOUCHDOWN ON SOFT TRRN. DRG THE LNDG, THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A MOUND OF DIRT, BOTH TAIL ROTOR BLADES SEPD, THEN THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ON ITS RGT SIDE & CAME TO REST. INV REVEALED THE GOVERNOR ANTICIPATOR WOULD NOT HAVE ACTIVATED UNTIL COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED & THE ENG COULD TAKE UP TO 9 SEC TO SPOOL UP. F/M ADDRESSED ONLY FULL STOP (A/R) LNDGS. MANUAL FOR AEROSPATIALE INSTRUCTORS RESTRICTED PWR RCVRY TO 200' AGL. NO MECH STOP WAS PROVIDED TO KEEP THE ENG FM GOING BLO 50% DRG PWR RDCN FOR A/R. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5793P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5793P-2013-07-08), registration cancelled 2013-07-08, S/N 1476, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS-350D - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (registry code 8680817) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Honeywell LTS101-600A3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-lts101-600a3a) (registry code 33819, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 1476 - Airframe hours: 2161 - Engines: LYCOMING LTS-101 235 lbs thrust turbo shaft - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: J. Fletcher Creamer & Son Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 8, 1988, 57 hours before - Departed: KTEB, TETERBORO, NJ - Airport: N-2Y, Spring Valley Heliport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,194 total, 1,538 in this make and model, 5,806 as pilot in command, 67 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °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 19890222002389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890222002389A), Feb 22, 1989: Snias AS350D, Spring Valley, NY, Destroyed. Autorotation to power recovery. No power. Impacted. Rolled over. Dne and pilot skill were factors. ## Other investigations on N5793P (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR10FA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10FA055), Nov 14, 2009: Aerospatiale AS350BA (N5793P), Doyle, CA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot became spatially disoriented while maneuvering on a dark night, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control. 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.