Date:	Tuesday 10 December 2024
Time:	12:10
Type:	Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil
Owner/operator:	Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
Registration:	N913WB
MSN:	4491
Year of manufacture:	2008
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Joint Services Base-Los Alamitos (KSLI), Los Alamitos, CA -   United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Aerial patrol
Departure airport:	Los Alamitos NAS, CA (KSLI)
Destination airport:	Los Alamitos NAS, CA (KSLI)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The flight instructor of the helicopter reported that after acknowledging a landing clearance, he activated the HYD TEST switch to simulate a hydraulics failure. The student pilot responded to the simulated emergency and initiated a shallow approach for a “running” or run-on landing. Upon touchdown the helicopter veered left, toward the edge of the runway. The flight instructor applied corrective cyclic movement, which resulted in the helicopter becoming airborne. The flight instructor took control of the helicopter but struggled to maintain control without hydraulic assistance. The helicopter yawed to the left uncontrollably and impacted the ground. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the helicopter on runway 04R with wind from 050° at 4 knots, gusting 12 knots.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a run-on landing and the flight instructor’s excessive correction which resulted in impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

https://www.foxla.com/news/lapd-helicopter-crashes-during-training-orange-county
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lapd-helicopter-emergency-landing-los-alamitos/3579844/
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-10/lapd-helicopter-training-accident-leaves-2-officers-injured
https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/strong-winds-causes-lapd-helicopter-to-hit-the-ground-during-training-exercise/

https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199405
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=913WB

https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/6/59688_1489375130.jpg (photo)

Ex N665PD, N574AM

Photo: NTSB

Grateful to hear that the two LAPD officers involved in today’s helicopter training accident at the Los Alamitos facility are safe, with only minor injuries reported. Equipment can be replaced, but lives cannot. Wishing them a swift recovery and thanking God for their safety.… pic.twitter.com/hHOADEjc4U

— Los Angeles Aerial Photography (@copterpilotla) December 11, 2024

JUST IN: No serious injuries reported after LAPD chopper was involved in a training accident on Tuesday.

Cops say the aircraft "experienced a mechanical failure."pic.twitter.com/i0jodaYOhY

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 10, 2024

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
11-Dec-2024 07:27	battleaxe10	Added
11-Dec-2024 08:03	Captain Adam	Updated [Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ]
11-Dec-2024 08:42	RobertMB	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location, Nature, Source, Narrative, Category, ]
11-Dec-2024 10:36	Aerossurance	Updated [Operator, Embed code, ]
11-Dec-2024 14:18	Captain Adam	Updated [Nature, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ]
17-Dec-2024 22:22	Captain Adam	Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, Accident report, ]
22-Apr-2025 20:26	Captain Adam	Updated [Phase, Source, Narrative, Photo, ]