Eurocopter AS355N accident near League City, Texas, May 28, 2004
On May 28, 2004 at about 2:35 pm local time, a Eurocopter AS355N (helicopter), registered N355CV, was substantially damaged in an accident near League City, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MAY 30, 2006." The pilot's misjudged flare during an autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and subsequent rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 2004 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- League City, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS355N · all AS355Ns on the register
- Registration
- N355CV · no longer on the register · serial 5569
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
"THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED MAY 30, 2006." The 13,800-hour airline transport pilot and five passengers departed on a short pleasure flight after satisfactorily completing a maintenance check with the engines running on the ground. The pilot flew to a local airport and made a normal straight-in approach, executed an autorotation with a power recovery, then proceeded back to the home airport. While en route, after the helicopter crossed over a large row of power lines, the pilot reported the helicopter lost all engine power. However, none of the anticipated aural warnings, annuciator lights, abnormal vibrations or sounds associated with a power failure was observed. The pilot entered an autorotation and the helicopter contacted the ground hard and rolled over. Examination of the helicopter revealed continuity to all flight controls and the main gearbox. The #1 engine was placed on a test cell, started immediately, and was run at various power settings without interruption. Due to impact damage the #2 engine could not be test-run. Examination of the #1 and #2 engines' main gearbox coupling shafts by an NTSB Materials Specialist revealed that the shafts were both fractured at the reduced section adjacent to the main gear box input splines. The fracture plane, presence of dimpling, and direction of fracture were consistent with ductile torsional overstress with the engines running. In addition, data retrieved from the digital engine control units and damage to the main gear drive shafts indicated that both engines were operating at the time of impact. No mechanical deficiencies were noted that would have attributed to a loss of power on either engine. Several attempts were made to obtain a copy of NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Accident Report; however, the pilot failed to submit a completed report.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,800 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Turbomeca Arrius 1A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Turbomeca Arrius 1A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LVJ Pearland TX at 2:20 pm
- Destination: HOU Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from HOU, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.