Eurocopter AS 350 N680DG

Summary

On 29 January 2019 at about 23:20 local time, a Eurocopter AS 350 registered N680DG, operated by Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, was involved in an accident near Tampa, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 January 2019 at 23:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Tampa, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tampa Executive (VDF)

Coordinates

28.0111, -82.3444

Aircraft

Eurocopter AS 350

Registration

N680DG

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tampa → Tampa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA121

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper landing flare while practicing autorotations, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that, during preparation for the pilot's helicopter commercial checkride, they were going to practice autorotation procedures. He added that, during the second autorotation, he saw that the rotor rpm had dropped significantly and that the pilot was pulling up on the collective. He immediately took command of the flight controls and attempted to lower the collective. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard, bounced, yawed right, bounced again, and then came to rest on the right side of the runway. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.