# NTSB WPR15CA040: Aerospatiale AS350BA, N425U, Panguitch, UT, November 13, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 13, 2014, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Panguitch, UT - Coordinates: 37.845275, -112.391944 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8453&lon=-112.3919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR15CA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90384/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90384 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA040 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's delayed reaction in taking control of the helicopter during a student pilot's loss of control while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS350BA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=8680817), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an instructional flight, the student was practicing "hydraulic off" landings. The flight instructor (CFI) stated that he had to take control of the helicopter during the landing, due to the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter's yaw and pitch. The CFI was unable to prevent the helicopter from rotating and it inadvertently struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. The CFI reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During an instructional flight, the student was practicing "hydraulic off" landings. The Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) stated that he had to take control of the helicopter during the landing, due to the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter's yaw and pitch. The CFI was unable to prevent the helicopter from rotating and it inadvertently struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. The CFI reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N425U-2018-04-02), registration cancelled 2018-04-02, S/N 2422, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS350BA (D) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS350BA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as350ba) (registry code 8680817) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2422 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 9293.6 - Engines: Honeywell LTS-101-700D2 734 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Utah University - Registered owner: Tumbleweed Leasing Co Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 22, 2014 - Departed: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Destination: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: U55, Panguitch Muni, runway 18, 5,700 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: minor; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,358 total, 452 in this make and model, 1,207 as pilot in command, 206 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; private; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 100 total, 5 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 79 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: BCE, 14 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 20141113020369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141113020369A), Nov 13, 2014: Aerospatiale AS350BA, Panguitch, UT, Substantial damage. Student pilot lost control of the helicopter while performing a simulated hydraulic failure emergency approach to land. CFI took controls and was unable to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90384. 565 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 565 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.