ROBINSON HELICOPTER R44
West Palm Beach, FL — September 22, 2015
Event Information
| Date | September 22, 2015 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA15CA280 |
| Event ID | 20150929X53540 |
| Location | West Palm Beach, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 26.59111, -80.08195 |
| Airport | PALM BEACH COUNTY PARK |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ROBINSON HELICOPTER |
| Model | R44 |
| 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 flight instructor's improper use of pitch control during a demonstrated 180 degree autorotation which resulted in damage to the tail boom.
Full Narrative
The helicopter flight instructor reported that during a local instructional flight, he was demonstrating a 180 degree autorotation to the ground. The flight instructor reported he entered the autorotation and everything was normal. During the flare, too much aft cyclic input was used and the helicopter touched down on the heels of the skids. The flight instructor reported the touchdown was not excessively hard or uneven. A post flight examination of the helicopter revealed that the main rotor blade had contacted the tail boom, causing substantial damage to the tail boom.
The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
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.