What happened
On April 7, 2020, an AS365N2 helicopter, registration NA-103, operated by the National Police Agency Aerial Service, crashed during a training flight at Kaohsiung International Airport. The flight crew, consisting of a pilot flying, a pilot monitoring, and an engineer, had been conducting routine training maneuvers in the nearby airspace.
At approximately 15:16, the crew requested permission from the Kaohsiung Tower to perform simulated airspeed loss and tail rotor failure procedures. The tower approved the request, noting a wind direction of 290 degrees and a speed of 9 knots. The aircraft was approaching the runway in a tailwind condition.
During the execution of the simulated tail rotor failure maneuver, the aircraft entered a low-altitude, low-speed state. At approximately 15:30, the helicopter began to lose directional control, developing a significant rightward yaw. As the aircraft continued along the runway at a very low altitude, the main rotor struck the ground, causing the helicopter to capsize onto its left side. The impact resulted in heavy damage to the main rotor system, though there were no injuries to the crew.
The investigation
The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) investigated the sequence of events and the crew's performance. The investigation focused on the flight crew's adherence to established procedures during the high-workload maneuver. The inquiry examined the aircraft's maintenance records, weight and balance, and environmental conditions, finding no mechanical or maintenance-related failures. The investigation also reviewed the training and oversight protocols of the National Police Agency Aerial Service.