# NTSB WPR25LA189: American Eurocopter AS350B3, N3951A, San Luis, AZ, June 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 25, 2025, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: San Luis, AZ - Coordinates: 32.516306, -114.69838 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5163&lon=-114.6984&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200396/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200396 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to properly recover the helicopter during an autorotative landing and the instructor pilot’s failure to intervene, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1145004), [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; cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1145004), [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. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [American Eurocopter AS350B3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1145004), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the operator, the instructor and pilot receiving instruction were conducting hover autorotation training over cement that was visually obstructed by a hard packed dirt surface. On the third autorotation, the pilot under instruction established a hover at a slightly higher altitude than the previous two practice iterations. During recovery, the pilot receiving instruction executed the appropriate procedures, but the helicopter began to settle faster than expected and he was unable to sufficiently reduce the rate of descent. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard and resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. The operator reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3951A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3951A), registered now, S/N 4993, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3 - Registry model: [American Eurocopter AS350B3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-eurocopter-as350b3) (registry code 1145004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4993 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 5969.2 - Engines: Safran Arriel 2B1 847 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Public use - Operator: US Department Of Homeland Security - Registered owner: US Department Of Homeland Security - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 6, 2025 - Departed: NYL, Yuma, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 44A, Rollie Airfield, runway 17/35, 2,800 × 60 ft, gravel - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,895 total, 1,420 in this make and model, 2,768 as pilot in command, 168 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2025; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,206 total, 192 in this make and model, 251 as pilot in command, 129 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KNYL, 9 nm away - METAR: METAR KNYL 251657Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 32/04 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP117 T03220044 $ ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200396. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19318576&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB_6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 315 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19317733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LA189%20Accident%20Photos-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. --- 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.