Pilot Debrief

EUROCOPTER AS350 near Wetumpka, AL — 2025-10-23

Final reportERA26LA026
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Date
2025-10-23
Location
Wetumpka, AL, USA
Airport
08A
Aircraft
EUROCOPTER AS350
Registration
N545HF
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper recovery from a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the pilot receiving instruction.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and flight instructor were conducting training exercises in a helicopter at night using night vision goggles. The exercises included four autorotation landings from a hover, each initiated about 4 ft above ground level. The pilot reported that during the second autorotation landing, following the flight instructor’s reduction of power, he reacted prematurely and inadvertently increased the helicopter’s height above the ground, which resulted in a hard landing. Unaware that the helicopter had been damaged, the remainder of the training flight was completed uneventfully. The following day, during a preflight inspection, another flight crew discovered substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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