Aerospatiale AS350D N3596G
21 August 1989 · Carson City, Nevada, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 21 August 1989 at about 20:40 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350D registered N3596G, operated by Aris Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Carson City, Nevada, United States. 5 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 3 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Carson City, Nevada, United States
- Coordinates
- 39.1404, -119.7110
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350D
- Registration
- N3596G
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Aris Helicopters
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Reno → Bodie
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- DEN89FA197
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Probable cause
A FAILURE OF THE GAS GENERATOR TURBINE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN WHICH THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT OVER A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE PILOT PERFORMED AN AUTOROTATION TO A STREET. DUE TO LANDING AREA CONSTRAINTS, THE AUTOROTATION WAS PERFORMED WITH A 30 KNOT TAIL WIND COMPONENT, WHICH CAUSED A HARD LANDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL AFTER TOUCHDOWN. FIVE PERSONS WERE ABOARD AND ONE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO BEING EJECTED FROM THE HELICOPTER, WHEN HIS SEATBELT FAILED. THE POWER LOSS WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE GP TURBINE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aerospatiale AS350D accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jul 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Long Beach, California, United States | Island Express Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Waialae Falls, Hawaii, United States | Papillion Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 1989 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Volcano, Hawaii, United States | Papillon Helicopters, Ltd | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1987 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States | Jones, Jones & Welch | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 1991 | Aerospatiale AS350D ASTAR | Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States | Equipment Leasors of PA, Inc. | Fatal | 3 |
| 23 Mar 1986 | Aerospatiale AS350D | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Damin Aviation Corp. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1989 | Piper PA-32-300 | Boulder City, Nevada, United States | Bellis, James E. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1989 | Balloon Works FIREFLY 7 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Richard K. Tanner | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jan 1989 | Piper PA-23-160 | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 29 Jan 1989 | Aeronca O-58B | Minden, Nevada, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 23 Feb 1989 | Mooney M20K | Incline Village, Nevada, United States | Performance Aircraft, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Apr 1989 | Cessna 172P | Hawthorne, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |