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NTSB Final Report: Sanford, FL

 

Location:

Sanford, Florida

Accident Number:

ERA24LA287

Date & Time:

June 27, 2024, 15:34 Local

Registration:

N174SC

Aircraft:

Airbus Helicopters AS350

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Defining Event:

Settling with power/vortex ring

Injuries:

3 None

state

 

 

 

Flight Conducted Under:

Public aircraft

 

 

 

Analysis

As part of a law enforcement simulation exercise, the helicopter pilot was orbiting near the departure airport between 200 to 300 ft above ground level, at 20 to 40 knots indicated airspeed. The pilot described that while the helicopter was in a left orbit the airspeed decreased to near 0. At that time, the helicopter began to descend in a vortex ring state (VRS). Due to the low altitude, the pilot was not able to recover from VRS and entered an autorotation to a grass area on the airport. The helicopter subsequently landed hard and came to rest upright in the grass area resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter’s tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The helicopter pilot’s improper maneuvering at low altitude in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in the helicopter entering a vortex ring state, and hard landing during a subsequent autorotation.

Findings

Personnel issues Incorrect action performance - Pilot

Environmental issues Gusts - Response/compensation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-low-alt flying Settling with power/vortex ring state (Defining event)

Autorotation Hard landing

Pilot Information

Certificate:

Commercial

Age:

36,Male

Airplane Rating(s):

None

Seat Occupied:

Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s):

Helicopter

Restraint Used:

4-point

Instrument Rating(s):

Helicopter

Second Pilot Present:

No

Instructor Rating(s):

None

Toxicology Performed:

 

Medical Certification:

Class 2 Without

Last FAA Medical Exam:

July 13, 2023

 

waivers/limitations

 

 

Occupational Pilot:

Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent:

September 16, 2023

Flight Time:

979 hours (Total, all aircraft), 934 hours (Total, this make and model), 912 hours (Pilot In

 

Command, all aircraft), 62 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2

 

hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

 

 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make:

Airbus Helicopters

Registration:

N174SC

Model/Series:

AS350 B3

Aircraft Category:

Helicopter

Year of Manufacture:

2023

Amateur Built:

 

Airworthiness Certificate:

Normal

Serial Number:

9349

Landing Gear Type:

Skid

Seats:

6

Date/Type of Last

June 17, 2024 AAIP

Certified Max Gross Wt.:

5225 lbs

Inspection:

 

 

 

Time Since Last Inspection:

1 Hrs

Engines:

1 Turbo shaft

Airframe Total Time:

402.1 Hrs as of last inspection

Engine Manufacturer:

SAFRAN

ELT:

C126 installed, not activated

Engine Model/Series:

ARRIEL 2D

Registered Owner:

SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS

Rated Power:

952 Horsepower

 

OFFICE

 

 

Operator:

SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFFS

Operating Certificate(s)

None

 

OFFICE

Held:

 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site:

Visual (VMC)

Condition of Light:

Day

Observation Facility, Elevation:

SFB,55 ft msl

Distance from Accident Site:

1 Nautical Miles

Observation Time:

15:49 Local

Direction from Accident Site:

282°

Lowest Cloud Condition:

Few / 5500 ft AGL

Visibility

10 miles

Lowest Ceiling:

Broken / 10000 ft AGL

Visibility (RVR):

 

Wind Speed/Gusts:

11 knots / 20 knots

Turbulence Type

/

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Wind Direction:

290°

Turbulence Severity

/

 

 

Forecast/Actual:

 

Altimeter Setting:

29.88 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point:

32°C / 22°C

Precipitation and Obscuration:

No Obscuration; No Precipitation

 

Departure Point:

Sanford, FL (SFB)

Type of Flight Plan Filed:

None

Destination:

Sanford, FL (SFB)

Type of Clearance:

VFR flight following

Departure Time:

15:16 Local

Type of Airspace:

Class C

Airport Information

Airport:

Orlando Sanford International

Runway Surface Type:

 

 

Airport SFB

 

 

Airport Elevation:

55 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition:

 

Runway Used:

 

IFR Approach:

None

Runway Length/Width:

 

VFR Approach/Landing:

None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:

1 None

Aircraft Damage:

Substantial

Passenger

2 None

Aircraft Fire:

None

Injuries:

 

 

 

Ground Injuries:

N/A

Aircraft Explosion:

None

Total Injuries:

3 None

Latitude,

28.777642,-81.231234(est)

 

 

Longitude:

 

Administrative Information

Investigator In Charge (IIC):

Gretz, Robert

Additional Participating

Joe Gramzinsky; FAA/FSDO; Orlando, FL

Persons:

 

 

Original Publish Date:

July 25, 2024

Last Revision Date:

 

 

Investigation Class:

Class 4

Note:

The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Investigation Docket:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194587

 

 

 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation— railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.

The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.

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Created 87 days ago
by Admin

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