Final Report AS50 (N350LH), manoeuvring, East River New York USA, 11 Mar 2018

Final Report AS50 (N350LH), manoeuvring, East River New York USA, 11 Mar 2018

Publication info
Author
NTSB (USA)
Category
Airworthiness Human Factors Loss of Control
Date of publication
10/12/2019

On 11 March 2018, an Airbus AS350 engine failed during a commercial sightseeing flight and autorotation was initiated. The pilot then noticed that the floor-mounted fuel cut-off had been operated by part of the tether system of one of the five passengers but there was insufficient time to restore power. On water contact, the automatic floatation system operated asymmetrically and the helicopter submerged before the occupants could evacuate. Only the pilot was able to release his harness and escape because the unapproved adapted passenger harnesses had no quick release mechanism. The Investigation found systemic inadequacy of the operator's safety management system.

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