Pilot Debrief

BELL OH 58A near Ponce, PR — 2016-10-25

Final reportERA17CA056
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Date
2016-10-25
Location
Ponce, PR, USA
Airport
PSE
Aircraft
BELL OH 58A
Registration
N161PD
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The helicopter flight instructor's inadequate demonstration of a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

During an instructional flight, the helicopter was about 40 to 50 ft above ground level and 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 before an actual run-on landing, he noticed that he did not have enough rotor rpm to recover and chose 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 tailboom and rotor gear box.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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