Aerospatiale AS350BA accident near Panguitch, Utah, November 13, 2014
On November 13, 2014 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1990 Aerospatiale AS350BA (helicopter), registered N425U, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Panguitch, Utah (Panguitch Muni airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed reaction in taking control of the helicopter during a student pilot's loss of control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2014 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Panguitch, Utah · Panguitch Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350BA D, built 1990 · all AS350BAs on the register
- Registration
- N425U · no longer on the register · serial 2422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an instructional flight, the student was practicing "hydraulic off" landings. The flight instructor (CFI) stated that he had to take control of the helicopter during the landing, due to the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter's yaw and pitch. The CFI was unable to prevent the helicopter from rotating and it inadvertently struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. The CFI reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Roll over during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,358 hours in all; 452 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 89 in the last 30 days; 1,207 as pilot in command; 778 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 13, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 17 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 22, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,293.6 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 22, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 5,512 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell LTS-101-700D2 (turboshaft); 10,164 hours total
- Operator: Southern Utah University
The flight
- Departed from: CDC Cedar City UT at 4:45 pm
- Destination: CDC Cedar City UT
- Runway 18, 5,700 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from BCE, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR15CA040.