Aerospatiale AS350BA N425U

Summary

On 13 November 2014 at about 17:45 local time, a Aerospatiale AS350BA registered N425U, operated by Southern Utah University, was involved in an accident near Panguitch, Utah, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

13 November 2014 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Panguitch, Utah, United States

Nearest airport

Panguitch Muni (U55)

Coordinates

37.8453, -112.3919

Aircraft

Aerospatiale AS350BA

Registration

N425U

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

Southern Utah University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cedar City → Cedar City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR15CA040

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's delayed reaction in taking control of the helicopter during a student pilot's loss of control while landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an instructional flight, the student was practicing "hydraulic off" landings. The 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.