# NTSB WPR25LA058: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, N913WB, Los Alamitos, CA, December 10, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 10, 2024, 12:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Los Alamitos, CA
- Coordinates: 33.79003, -118.05142
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7900&lon=-118.0514&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199405
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199405/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199405
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA058

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a run-on landing and the flight instructor’s excessive correction which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8680950), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that after acknowledging a landing clearance, he activated the HYD TEST switch to simulate a hydraulics failure. The student pilot responded to the simulated emergency and initiated a shallow approach for a “running” or run-on landing. Upon touchdown the helicopter veered left, toward the edge of the runway. The flight instructor applied corrective cyclic movement, which resulted in the helicopter becoming airborne. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter but struggled to maintain control without hydraulic assistance. The helicopter yawed to the left uncontrollably and impacted the ground. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the helicopter on runway 04R with wind from 050° at 4 knots, gusting 12 knots. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N913WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N913WB), registered now, S/N 4491, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EUROCOPTER AS 350 B2
- Registry model: [Eurocopter AS 350 B2](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-as-350-b2) (registry code 8680950) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1D1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1d1) (registry code 60053, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 4491
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 17134
- Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL 1D1 712 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Public use
- Operator: Lapd Air Support Division
- Registered owner: Lapd Air Support Division
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SLI, Los Alamitos Aaf, runway 4R, 7,999 × 200 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,917 total, 1,775 in this make and model, 1,721 as pilot in command, 98 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 0.4 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1.9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point -18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: KSLI
- METAR: METAR KSLI 101955Z 07012KT 10SM FEW050 25/M28 A3023 RMK AO2A SLP240 T02451280=

## 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 20241210018949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241210018949A), Dec 10, 2024: Eurocopter AS 350 B2, Los Alamitos, CA, Substantial damage. On December 10, 2024, at approximately 1210 PST, a 2008 Eurocopter/airbus AS350B2, [privacy data omitted] air support division, was involved in an incident…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199405. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 flight instructor (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18178643&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 student pilot (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18177347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB-Form%206120_1%20for%20second%20pilot%20signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos for WPR25LA058 (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 375 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18496172&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR25LA058_Redacted-Rel.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.

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