BELL 47D1
Clanton, AL — August 11, 2015
Event Information
| Date | August 11, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA221 |
| Event ID | 20150812X10003 |
| Location | Clanton, AL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.85111, -86.60806 |
| Airport | CHILTON COUNTY |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | 47D1 |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The student pilot's abrupt cyclic and collective inputs during the approach to land which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a subsequent tail boom strike by the main rotor blades.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor reported that while conducting an approach to landing, terminating at a three foot hover, the student pilot "pulled back on the cyclic and dumped collective", which caused the main rotor blades to contact the tail boom after the helicopter impacted the ground "hard".
The flight instructor reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and to the empennage.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.