HOUSTON, TX, USA
N5784Y
AEROSPATIALE AS-350D
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR THE PILOT TO PRACTICE MANEUVERS IN PREPARATION FOR A PART 135 CHECK RIDE. THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATIONS TO A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 5 FT AG. HE REPORTED THAT ON HIS FOURTH AUTOROTATION, THE ENGINE DID NOT ACCELERATE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED THE POWER RECOVERY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER FELL THROUGH THE RECOVERY AND LANDED HARD. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROL AND POWER TURBINE GOVERNOR WERE REMOVED FOR EXAMINATION. THE GOVERNOR WAS FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. HOWEVER, AN EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT REVEALED THE PX TRIM BLEED PART WAS OVERSIZE. THE SPECIFICATION CALLED FOR A SIZE #64 TO #68 PART, BUT A #61 PART WAS INSTALLED. ALSO, THERE WAS SOME WEAR ON THE BELLOWS. ACCORDING TO BENDIX CORP, THE OVERSIZE PART AND WEAR WOULD HAVE LEANED THE MIXTURE, BUT WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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