SCHWEIZER 300C
Hamilton, MT — May 1, 2013
Event Information
| Date | May 1, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR13CA253 |
| Event ID | 20130531X64045 |
| Location | Hamilton, MT |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 46.25139, -114.12556 |
| Airport | Ravalli County Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | SCHWEIZER |
| Model | 300C |
| 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 failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor reported that during an instructional flight, the helicopter was at 500 feet above ground level when he rolled the throttle off with the intent for the student to respond by initiating a straight in autorotation. The student pilot did not respond properly, so the instructor took over to initiate a power recovery. The helicopter subsequently landed hard, deforming both skids and substantially damaging the airframe. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failure 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.