Eurocopter AS 350B3 N186AE

Summary

On 4 August 2009 at about 20:28 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350B3 registered N186AE, operated by U S Customs and Border Protection, was involved in an accident near Jacksonville, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 2009 at 20:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Herlong (HEG)

Coordinates

30.2742, -81.8031

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350B3

Registration

N186AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

U S Customs and Border Protection

Operating rule

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jacksonville → Jacksonville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09TA440

1 person had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's improper decision to attempt hover flight without hydraulic power and his subsequent loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certified flight instructor and a commercial pilot receiving instruction were practicing maneuvers in the helicopter with the hydraulic system turned off, to simulate a hydraulic system failure. The commercial pilot was conducting a practice approach to a runway, with a transition to a hover. As the helicopter approached 5 feet above the ground, the commercial pilot began to lose directional control of the helicopter. The flight instructor assumed control; however, the helicopter entered multiple revolutions, climbs, and descents before it contacted the ground, spun, and rolled over. The fuselage, tail rotor and main rotor drive systems were substantially damaged. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions; nor did either pilot report any mechanical abnormalities. According to the helicopter manufacturer's flight manual training supplement, hovering without hydraulic power was not an approved procedure and would result in "excessive pilot workload, poor aircraft control, and possible loss of control."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.