AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
Eagle Pass, TX, October 23, 2013
Event Information
| Date | October 23, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Eagle Pass, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 28.62056, -100.15639 |
| Airport | COMANCHE RANCH |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
| NTSB Number | CEN14CA016 |
| Event ID | 20131024X90206 |
Aircraft
| Make | AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP |
| Model | AS350B3 |
| Registration # | N1CR |
| Operator | FRIEDKIN COMPANIES INC |
| Owner | FRIEDKIN COMPANIES INC |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The abnormal contact of the helicopter's skids with the landing surface, which resulted in a rollover.
Full Narrative
The instructor pilot provided instruction to the private pilot and conducted practice autorotation landings. The instructor pilot demonstrated an autorotation and during the landing the helicopter slid on the skids for about 10-15 feet before the skids dug into the soft landing surface. The helicopter began to pitch nose down so both pilots applied aft cyclic and up collective. The helicopter continued to pitch nose down when the main rotor impacted the ground, which resulted in the helicopter rolling on its right side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom. The instructor pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.