SIKORSKY 269C near Lumberton, NJ — 2013-06-22

Probable cause

The pilot's movement of the throttle to the idle detent at the beginning of a practice autorotation, which was contrary to procedures and resulted in the engine hesitating during the power recovery and a subsequent hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot initiated a practice autorotation about 951 feet above ground level (agl), rolled off the throttle to the idle detent, and maintained 60 knots during the descent until 50 feet agl, at which time, he flared the helicopter. At the end of the flare, when the helicopter was about 20 to 30 feet agl, the pilot lowered the nose to level the helicopter, began to increase the collective, and rolled on the throttle for a power recovery. The pilot reported that, subsequently, the engine sounded like it was "bogging down" and that the engine rpm was not increasing enough for the helicopter to continue to come to a hover. The helicopter continued to descend and contacted the runway hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the vertical firewall. A postaccident engine run revealed no evidence of a preimpact failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot's flight manual, when performing practice autorotations, the pilot should lower the collective while maintaining the throttle setting to prevent the engine from "loading up or stalling" during recovery. Therefore, it is likely that the pilot rolling the throttle to the idle detent at the beginning of the maneuver, which was contrary to procedures, resulted in the engine hesitating when power was applied for the recovery.

Analysis

Primary failure mode

Human factors

First missed decision gate

Pilot could have maintained throttle setting during autorotation recovery.

NTSB coding

• Loss of engine power (partial) · Approach-VFR pattern final

Evidence available

• Photos
• 8 docket documents

Docket documents8

• Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1form
• FAA Inspector Statementinterview
• Passenger Statementinterview
• Excerpts from Federal Aviation Administration Helicopter Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-21Aother
• Excerpts from Pilot's Flight Manualother
• Record of Conversation with Pilotother
• Photo 1: Digital Photograph Provided by Operator. View Depicting the Damage to the Skids.photos
• Weather Reports and Recordsreport

Related mishaps

• BEECH 35-C33A

  2024-06-01 · San Diego, CA

• Cessna 150

  2020-06-20 · Millersport, OH

• Cessna 172

  2019-07-22 · Madras, OR

• Ercoupe 415

  2019-06-13 · Hawkins, TX

• Piper PA28

  2019-01-15 · Salt Lake City, UT

• Cessna 206

  2018-09-19 · Sugar Land, TX