Pilot Debrief

AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3 near San Luis, AZ — 2025-06-25

Final reportWPR25LA189
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Date
2025-06-25
Location
San Luis, AZ, USA
Airport
44A
Aircraft
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CORP AS350B3
Registration
N3951A
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to properly recover the helicopter during an autorotative landing and the instructor pilot’s failure to intervene, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

According to the operator, the instructor and pilot receiving instruction were conducting hover autorotation training over cement that was visually obstructed by a hard packed dirt surface. On the third autorotation, the pilot under instruction established a hover at a slightly higher altitude than the previous two practice iterations. During recovery, the pilot receiving instruction executed the appropriate procedures, but the helicopter began to settle faster than expected and he was unable to sufficiently reduce the rate of descent. Subsequently, the helicopter landed hard and resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom. The operator reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents2

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