Eurocopter AS350 B3 accident near Mesa, Arizona, November 4, 2003
On November 4, 2003, a Eurocopter AS350 B3 (helicopter), registered N820NA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadvertent activation of the hydraulic test switch, which resulted in a loss of the hydraulic system pressure, and his failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 4, 2003
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350 B3 · all AS350 B3s on the register
- Registration
- N820NA · no longer on the register · serial 3602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter impacted a taxiway after a experiencing a loss of anti torque control during an emergency landing. The pilot reported a hydraulic system failure and diverted to the nearest airport. During the emergency landing, after slowing the helicopter and descending through 100 feet, the helicopter yawed to the left. The pilot attempted to apply right pedal but was met with more force than he was expecting to overcome in moving the anti torque pedals. The pilot attempted to keep the helicopter in a level attitude; however, he was unable to stop the helicopter from spinning. The helicopter touched down, and rotated on the ground until the right landing gear skid collapsed and the main rotor system impacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. The engine continued to operate and the main rotor blades repeatedly impacted the ground until the fire department was able to shutdown the engine by directing a stream of firefighting foam into the engine intake. The pilot turned off the electrical master switch and exited the helicopter. The AS350 B3 is equipped with four servo actuators, three for the main rotor system and one for the tail rotor blade pitch control. The flight manual emergency procedures section notes that without any hydraulic pressure, the anti torque pedal operating force is very high on the helicopter. Post accident examination of the wreckage revealed the hydraulic test switch was depressed. Activation of the hydraulic test switch will dump hydraulic pressure and is used during the preflight inspection to test the hydraulic accumulator pressure. If it is depressed during flight, the hydraulic system will dump pressure and mirror a hydraulic system failure. No other anomalies were noted with the hydraulic system during post accident examinations and testing. The recommended emergency procedures for a hydraulic system failure dictates that the pilot make a flat approach over a clear landing area and land with slight forward speed.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,288 hours in all; 398 in this make and model; 171 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 2,159 as pilot in command; 1,096 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,143.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 15, 2003; 45.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,961 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Turbomeca Ariel 2B1 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Native American Air Ambulance INC
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Show Low AZ
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:58 am from FFZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.