Pilot Debrief

AEROSPATIALE AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN near Constantine, MI — 2014-05-25

Final reportCEN14CA252
Sign in to save
Date
2014-05-25
Location
Constantine, MI, USA
Aircraft
AEROSPATIALE AS 365 N2 DAUPHIN
Registration
N365WM
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control while entering a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he positioned the helicopter to land on a westerly heading with the light and variable wind from the west. About 200 feet above the ground he noticed that the helicopter was descending so he increased the collective to arrest the rate of descent. The torque gage was increasing from 50% to 60%. He lowered the collective in attempt to get into clean air and then pulled back on the cyclic to arrest the forward airspeed. The pilot attempted to control the helicopter to the ground, maintain an upright attitude, and avoid obstacles. The helicopter landed hard and bounced once before it came to rest in the parking lot. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. A video of the accident sequence was reviewed and matched the pilot's statement. The video did not reveal any anomalies with the helicopter or the engine sounds. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right fuselage and lower right vertical stabilizer. The video evidence and pilot statement are consistent with the helicopter entering a vortex ring state (settling with power) condition, which allowed the helicopter to descend more rapidly than expected and land hard.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted landing earlier to avoid hard landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

Related mishaps