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June 26, 2010 · Aerospatiale AS350 B2 · N191EH

Lake Charles, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 26, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Lake Charles, LA
Aircraft
Aerospatiale AS350 B2
Tail Number
N191EH
Operator
Era Helicopters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN10CA352

The flight instructor was preparing the commercial-rated pilot for a check ride in the helicopter equipped with skid-type landing gear. During one of three running landings to a touchdown, the flight instructor was demonstrating a practice hydraulic failure running landing and the helicopter started to get into ground resonance as he initially touched down. The flight instructor increased power to become briefly airborne and continued the maneuver to a normal practice hydraulic failure running landing. After the ground resonance experience, the flight instructor continued the flight training session for an additional 45 minutes and conducted another hydraulic failure running landing, several slope landings, and five hovering autorotations. Two of the hovering autorotations were described as rough, with an undesired drift to the front left. The flight instructor then left the airport where they had been practicing and returned to their home base airport where they conducted two straight-in autorotations and three 180-degree autorotations, all to a power recovery. After shut-down procedures were completed the two pilots were surprised when they discovered substantial damage, with buckling around the full circumference of the forward part of the tail boom and a crack in the skin at the 6 o’clock position. The flight instructor stated that he thought the damage occurred when they were conducting hovering autorotations. The two pilots reported that they were not injured.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor’s inadvertent entry into ground resonance when demonstrating a hydraulic failure running landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's and instructor pilot's failure to control the drift and rate of descent during the practice maneuvers.

Full Narrative

The flight instructor was preparing the commercial rated pilot for a check ride in the helicopter equipped with skid type landing gear. During one of three running landings to a touchdown, the flight instructor was demonstrating a practice hydraulic failure running landing and the helicopter started to get into ground resonance as he initially touched down. The flight instructor increased power to become briefly airborne and continued the maneuver to a normal practice hydraulic failure running landing. After the ground resonance experience, the flight instructor continued the flight training session for an additional 45 minutes and conducted another hydraulic failure running landing, several slope landings, and five hovering autorotations. Two of the hovering autorotations were described as rough, with an undesired drift to the front left. The flight instructor then left the airport where they had been practicing and returned to their home base airport where they conducted two straight in autorotations, and three 180-degree autorotations, all to a power recovery. After shut-down procedures were completed the two pilots were surprised when they discovered damage to the helicopter. The helicopter was substantially damaged with buckling around the full circumference of the forward part of the tail boom and a crack in the skin at the 6 o’clock position. The flight instructor stated that he thought the damage occurred when they were conducting hovering autorotations. The two pilots reported that they were not injured.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 CDT
Nearest AirportChennault International Airpor (0nm)
Runway15
Runway Length10701 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAerospatiale AS350 B2
Tail NumberN191EH
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorEra Helicopters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsTurbomeca · Arriel 1 · Turboshaft · 732
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class · None
Crew 2Age 48 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.02 inHg
Observation Time14:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data