BELL OH 58A
Ponce, PR — October 25, 2016
Event Information
| Date | October 25, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA17CA056 |
| Event ID | 20161125X10532 |
| Location | Ponce, PR |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 18.01083, -66.56333 |
| Airport | MERCEDITA |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | OH 58A |
| 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 |
Probable Cause
The helicopter flight instructor's inadequate demonstration of a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard landing.
Full Narrative
During an instructional flight, the helicopter was at an altitude of 40 to 50 ft above ground level, at 60 knots, when the flight instructor intended to demonstrate a simulated engine failure and run-on landing. Although the flight instructor had intended to recover from the maneuver prior to an actual run-on landing, he noticed that he did not have enough rotor rpm to recover and elected to continue with the run-on landing. The helicopter then landed hard on a taxiway and slid about 300 ft before coming to rest upright. The flight instructor added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the aft engine bulkhead and wrinkles in the helicopter panels near the tail boom and rotor gear box.
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.