BELL 206
Ridgeland, SC — February 24, 2011
Event Information
| Date | February 24, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA11CA162 |
| Event ID | 20110224X84256 |
| Location | Ridgeland, SC |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 32.49361, -80.99194 |
| Airport | Ridgeland Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | BELL |
| Model | 206 |
| 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 certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.
Full Narrative
According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was conducting a practice straight-in autorotation with a planned power recovery from an altitude of 1,000 feet. The CFI stated that the helicopter’s rotor rpm was maintained throughout the maneuver. The student pilot initiated the flare during the recovery stage of the maneuver, but did not apply throttle, and the CFI did not react in time to add power in order to recover. The CFI subsequently took the controls and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor contacted the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail rotor control rod. The CFI stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.
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.