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August 10, 1982 · Aerospatiale SA-341G · N118EF

Long Beach, CA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 10, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Long Beach, CA
Aircraft
Aerospatiale SA-341G
Tail Number
N118EF
Operator
Heli Flight Systems
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX82DA295

The helicopter was being used for dual flight instruction of several students. The instructor pilot (IP) stated that he held the controls while his second student exited and the third student got in and adjusted his seat and pedals. After performing the before takeoff checks, the student pilot began to bring the helicopter to a hover. As the student began to hover, the IP looked to the left in the direction that they intended to hover. He stated that before he completed the clearing glance, he felt the helicopter pitch forward and to the right. Subsequently, the forward part of the right skid hit the ground and the helicopter went out of control. The IP stated that he took control and felt extreme right/forward pressure on the cyclic, the right pedal felt stuck, and the collective had an extreme downward pressure. During the investigation, the 3 main hydraulic servos and tail rotor servo were found operational. No evidence of a preimpact structural failure was found.

Full Narrative

THE HELICOPTER WAS BEING USED FOR DUAL FLIGHT INSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL STUDENTS. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) STATED THAT HE HELD THE CONTROLS WHILE HIS SECOND STUDENT EXITED AND THE THIRD STUDENT GOT IN AND ADJUSTED HIS SEAT AND PEDALS. AFTER PERFORMING THE BEFORE TAKEOFF CHECKS, THE STUDENT PILOT BEGAN TO BRING THE HELICOPTER TO A HOVER. AS THE STUDENT BEGAN TO HOVER, THE IP LOOKED TO THE LEFT IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY INTENDED TO HOVER. HE STATED THAT BEFORE HE COMPLETED THE CLEARING GLANCE, HE FELT THE HELICOPTER PITCH FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FORWARD PART OF THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE IP STATED THAT HE TOOK CONTROL AND FELT EXTREME RIGHT/FORWARD PRESSURE ON THE CYCLIC, THE RIGHT PEDAL FELT STUCK, AND THE COLLECTIVE HAD AN EXTREME DOWNWARD PRESSURE. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE 3 MAIN HYDRAULIC SERVOS AND TAIL ROTOR SERVO WERE FOUND OPERTIONAL. NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT STRUCTURAL FAILURE WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:22 PDT
Nearest AirportLong Beach (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale SA-341G
Tail NumberN118EF
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorHeli Flight Systems
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · ASTAZOU IIIA · Turboshaft · 592
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point18 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data