AEROSPATIALE AS350BA
Panguitch, UT — November 13, 2014
Event Information
| Date | November 13, 2014 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR15CA040 |
| Event ID | 20141113X54904 |
| Location | Panguitch, UT |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 37.84528, -112.39194 |
| Airport | PANGUITCH MUNI |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | AEROSPATIALE |
| Model | AS350BA |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 2 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The flight instructor's delayed reaction in taking control of the helicopter during a student pilot's loss of control while landing.
Full 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.
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.