ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 385398
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| Date: | Friday 29 September 2000 |
| Time: | 12:00 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes TH-55A |
| Owner/operator: | Maricopa County |
| Registration: | N331SD |
| MSN: | 291105 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1969 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10746 hours |
| Engine model: | Textron Lycoming HIO-360-B1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Phoenix, AZ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Phoenix, AZ (KDVT) |
| Phoenix, AZ (KDVT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The single engine helicopter experienced a main rotor-tail boom strike at the termination of a practice autorotation. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a 180-degree practice autorotation, and said that the entry, airspeed, rate of descent, deceleration, flare, and touchdown were normal. After touchdown he estimated that there was a ground slide of about 5 to 8 feet. As the aircraft stopped, he heard a loud sharp sound that was accompanied by sustained vibration and an uncommanded right yaw of about 30 degrees. After he and the student exited the helicopter, he noted that the main rotor blades had contacted the tail boom, damaging the tail rotor drive shaft, tail boom, as well as all the main rotor and tail rotor blades. The flight instructor stated that he did not perceive any action or inaction on his part that could be construed as detrimental to the safe outcome of the maneuver. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site and examined the helicopter, there were no signs of mechanical problems that would have contributed to the accident. The flight instructor had accumulated approximately 1,320 hours of helicopter flight time, of which approximately 800 hours were obtained in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.
Probable Cause: the flight instructor's misjudged flare during a simulated autorotation, which led to a hard landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX00TA355
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Apr-2024 18:07 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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