Airbus Helicopters AS350 incident near Clewiston, Florida, May 3, 2020
On May 3, 2020 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2018 Airbus Helicopters AS350, registered N1WT, was involved in an incident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Clewiston, Florida (Airglades airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Seizure of the hydraulic pump pulley bearing due to its improper installation by the manufacturer, leading to a failure of the hydraulic pump belt and the resultant partial loss of hydraulic assistance to the pedals.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2020 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clewiston, Florida · Airglades · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3, built 2018 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- N1WT · no longer on the register · serial 8594
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The No. 2 hydraulic system (HYD2) pulley bearing likely failed due to being installed skewed onto its pulley, resulting in abnormal bearing loads which led to its premature failure. The plastic deformation observed on the raceways and rolling elements, as well as contact damage on the bearing cage, were consistent with sliding of the rolling elements against the raceways and cage due to abnormal loading and forced rotation of a seized bearing. The seizure of the HYD2 pulley bearing led to the deterioration of the drive belt, resulting in its failure and the subsequent loss of hydraulic pressure in HYD2. Loss of hydraulic assistance from HYD2, which included the tail rotor servo control, resulted in higher pedal forces to control the helicopter in the yaw axis. It is likely the HYD2 pulley bearing did not show obvious visual evidence of deterioration during past inspections, including the last scheduled inspection about 13 flight hours prior to the incident, and visual detection of the deteriorating bearing may not have been possible without removal of the bearing from the pulley.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Pump, main › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Hydraulic power system › Pump, main › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 125 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Safran Arriel 2D (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Macneil Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LNA West Palm Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 5,902 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 85°F (29°C), dew point 80°F (27°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on December 13, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement to the Federal Aviation Administration | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | N1WT Replacement Main Gearbox Installation Maintenance Entry | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | N1WT Discrepancy Task Sheet Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Airbus Lab Report No. 2020-3223 (Hydraulic System Component Examination) | PDF, 39 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Airbus Lab Report No. 2021-40137 (Bearing Hardness Testing) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Airbus Lab Report No. 2021-40244 (Bearing Shield Regreasing Test) | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1WT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.