Pilot Debrief

HUGHES 269A near Mc Cool Junction, NE — 2012-09-19

Final reportCEN12LA648
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Date
2012-09-19
Location
Mc Cool Junction, NE, USA
Aircraft
HUGHES 269A
Registration
N37754
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor’s inadequate supervision of the student pilot’s entry into the autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power as a result of the student pilot rapidly lowering the helicopter’s collective and the partly obstructed air filter.

NTSB narrative

After takeoff, about 400 feet above ground level and about 50 knots airspeed, the flight instructor reduced the throttle to idle so the student pilot could demonstrate an autorotation. The student dropped the collective to enter the autorotation, and the engine stopped producing power; the helicopter descended rapidly and landed hard. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed an obstructed air filter. It is likely that the student lowered the collective too quickly, which, combined with the obstructed air filter, created a rich fuel mixture and loss of engine power. The student pilot mismanaged the autorotation and the instructor did not intervene in a timely manner to prevent the hard landing.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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