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NTSB Report
August 21, 1989 · Aerospatiale AS350D · N3596G
Carson City, NV
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 21, 1989
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Location
Carson City, NV
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS350D
Tail Number
N3596G
Operator
Aris Helicopters
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN89FA197
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.
NTSB 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.
Full 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.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:40 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAerospatiale AS350D
Tail NumberN3596G
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAris Helicopters
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsLycoming · LTS-101-600-A · Turboshaft · 615
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary4 injuries (1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries), 1 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor3
Uninjured1
Total5
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 6 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time19:50
Weather SourceWFAC