Loss of Engine Power (Total): Aerospatiale AS-350B-2 Ecureuil, N188FS; accident occurred February 18, 2020 at Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF), Hillsborough County, Florida

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket

Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff's Department

https://registry.faa.gov/N188FS 

Location: Tampa, Florida 

Accident Number: ERA20CA106

Date & Time: February 18, 2020, 15:50 Local 

Registration: N188FS

Aircraft: Aerospatiale AS350 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)

Injuries: 2 None

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The flight instructor in the helicopter reported that he directed the pilot receiving instruction to conduct an autorotation with a 180° turn, followed by a power recovery. Abeam the departure end of runway, he moved the throttle lever from the "fly" position to idle. While conducting the maneuver, the pilot overshot the runway and aligned the helicopter with the parallel taxiway. Upon realizing that the helicopter was not in the correct position, the pilots chose to abort the maneuver and perform a goaround. While the pilot continued to fly the helicopter, the instructor inadvertently moved the throttle lever from idle aft toward the "off" position and then forward to the "fly" position. The engine experienced a total loss of power, and the instructor adjusted the throttle to no avail. As the helicopter descended, the pilot requested that the instructor "get on the controls." The instructor took the controls, conducted a power-off autorotation, and landed the helicopter on the taxiway. The helicopter skidded about 180 ft, departed the taxiway onto adjacent grass, and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administrator inspector who examined the helicopter reported that the left antivibrator mount beam had sustained substantial damage.

Probable Cause and Findings

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

The flight instructor's inadvertent throttle reduction below idle, which resulted in a total loss of engine power and subsequent impact with terrain following a power-off autorotation. 

Findings

Personnel issues Use of equip/system - Instructor/check pilot

Aircraft Fuel controlling system - Unintentional use/operation

Factual Information

History of Flight

Autorotation Landing area undershoot

Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery

Autorotation Loss of engine power (total) (Defining event)

Landing Loss of control on ground

Landing Runway excursion

Landing Collision during takeoff/land

Flight instructor Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial 

Age: 56,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land

Seat Occupied: Left

Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter

Second Pilot Present: Yes

Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations

Last FAA Medical Exam: April 16, 2019

Occupational Pilot: Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: June 20, 2019

Flight Time: (Estimated) 12088 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1226 hours (Total, this make and model), 11023 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 49 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Student pilot Information

Certificate: Private 

Age: 32,Male

Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land 

Seat Occupied: Right

Other Aircraft Rating(s): None

Restraint Used: 4-point

Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 

Second Pilot Present: Yes

Instructor Rating(s): None 

Toxicology Performed: No

Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 

Last FAA Medical Exam: July 22, 2019

Occupational Pilot: Yes

Last Flight Review or Equivalent: September 25, 2009

Flight Time: (Estimated) 225 hours (Total, all aircraft), 104 hours (Total, this make and model), 118 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 67 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 23 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Aerospatiale

Registration: N188FS

Model/Series: AS350 B2 

Aircraft Category: Helicopter

Year of Manufacture: 2014 

Amateur Built: No

Airworthiness Certificate: Normal 

Serial Number: 7863

Landing Gear Type: High skid 

Seats: 6

Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 9, 2019 100 hour 

Certified Max Gross Wt.: 4961 lbs

Time Since Last Inspection:

Engines: 1 Turbo shaft

Airframe Total Time: 2627.3 Hrs at time of accident

Engine Manufacturer: SAFRAN/Turbomeca

ELT: C126 installed, not activated 

Engine Model/Series: Arriel 1D1

Registered Owner: 

Rated Power: 72195 Horsepower

Operator: 

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: VDF, 22 ft msl 

Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles

Observation Time: 21:15 Local 

Direction from Accident Site: 66°

Lowest Cloud Condition: 

Visibility: 10 miles

Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 4900 ft AGL 

Visibility (RVR):

Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots / 14 knots

Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None

Wind Direction: 160° 

Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A

Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg

Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 19°C

Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Departure Point: Tampa, FL (TPF) 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Destination: Tampa, FL (VDF)

Type of Clearance: None

Departure Time: 15:45 Local 

Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Tampa Executive VDF 

Runway Surface Type: Asphalt

Airport Elevation: 21 ft msl

Runway Surface Condition: Dry

Runway Used: 18

IFR Approach: None

Runway Length/Width: 3219 ft / 75 ft 

VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing; Simulated forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None 

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: N/A 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 2 None 

Latitude, Longitude: 28.013889,-82.345275(est)