Accident Hiller OH-23B N6057,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 290254
 
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Date:Monday 24 November 2014
Time:12:30 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic UH12 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Hiller OH-23B
Owner/operator:Vertically Challenged LLC
Registration: N6057
MSN: 54-2930
Year of manufacture:1954
Total airframe hrs:3119 hours
Engine model:Franklin 6V-350-B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Leesburg, Virginia -   United States of America
Phase: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:Training
Departure airport:Leesburg Executive Airport, VA (JYO/KJYO)
Destination airport:Leesburg Executive Airport, VA (JYO/KJYO)
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
Following an uneventful preflight inspection of the helicopter, the flight instructor and the student pilot boarded the helicopter for a local instructional flight. About 10 seconds after the student pilot lifted the helicopter into a stable hover with a left crosswind, the helicopter began a slow yaw to the right that the student was unable to arrest through the application of the left anti-torque pedal. As the rate of the yaw increased, the flight instructor took control of the helicopter and attempted to stop the yaw with the application of additional left anti-torque pedal, to no avail. The flight instructor then reduced engine power, arresting the yaw, and performed an autorotation to the ground after an estimated 1 3/4 total revolutions. As the helicopter touched down, it rocked backwards, and the tail rotor struck the helicopter's ground handling dolly, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor. The flight instructor did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter. Archived weather data showed that wind velocity about the time of the accident was 15 knots, with gusts to 24 knots. According to Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 90-95, pilots are advised to be aware that, "…if a considerable amount of left pedal is being maintained, a sufficient amount of left pedal may not be available to  counteract an unanticipated right yaw." Additionally, pilots should, "Stay vigilant to power and wind conditions."

Probable Cause: A loss of tail rotor effectiveness while hovering in gusting crosswind conditions resulting in the student pilot's loss of control of the helicopter. Contributing was the delayed remedial action of the flight instructor.

Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: ERA15CA059
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 3 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB ERA15CA059

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
06-Oct-2022 12:49 ASN Update Bot Added

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