Pilot Debrief

Bell 206B near Murietta, CA — 2008-04-27

Final reportSEA08CA124
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Date
2008-04-27
Location
Murietta, CA, USA
Airport
F70
Aircraft
Bell 206B
Registration
N526DL
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. A contributing factor to the accident was the dual student's improper flare.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was receiving instruction and reported that during the seventh practice full touchdown autorotation, the helicopter touched down on the aft part of the landing skids and started to rock forward. He stated he applied aft cyclic to prevent the helicopter from rolling forward, and one of the main rotor blades subsequently struck the tail boom. The flight instructor said that he was unable to react in time to level the helicopter prior to touchdown. Examination of the helicopter revealed structural damage to the tail boom and tail rotor drive shaft. No mechanical anomalies were reported with the flight control system. The pilot stated in the "How could this accident have been prevented?" section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report form, "proper execution of a full down autorotation by fully leveling the aircraft before touchdown."

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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