NONE · Eurocopter France AS350B3 · 2003-05-01 · Napa, CA, USA
Event
NTSB number
LAX03GA145
Event ID
20030513X00645
Type
Accident
Date
2003-05-01
Location
Napa, CA, USA
Coordinates
38.213054, -122.280555
Injuries
Highest injury
NONE
Fatal
0
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
3
Total aboard
3
Aircraft
Make
Eurocopter France
Model
AS350B3
Registration
N341HP
FAR Part
PUBU
Engines
1
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
the pilot under instruction's inadvertent activation of the collective manual fuel slide lock, which led to engine and main rotor overspeeds due to excessive fuel flow during power application. This resulted in failures of the gas generator turbine (N1) blades, power turbine (N2) blades, and created an external engine fire. A factor in the accident was the manufacturer's inadequate design of the twist grip slide lock, which had insufficient safeguards to preclude inadvertent activation.