NONE · Eurocopter AS-350B-3 · 2000-09-23 · KETCHIKAN, AK, USA
Event
NTSB number
ANC00LA132
Event ID
20001212X21898
Type
Accident
Date
2000-09-23
Location
KETCHIKAN, AK, USA
Coordinates
55.609577, -131.579971
Injuries
Highest injury
NONE
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
2
Total aboard
2
Aircraft
Make
Eurocopter
Model
AS-350B-3
Registration
N405AE
FAR Part
091
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent activation of the collective flight stop/emergency fuel augmentation switch, which resulted in engine and main rotor overspeeds, thereby precipitating failures of the tail rotor drive shaft coupling and power turbine blades. A factor associated with the accident was the manufacturer's inadequate design of the flight stop switch, which has insufficient safeguards to preclude inadvertent activation.