Pilot Debrief

BELL 47D1 near Clanton, AL — 2015-08-11

Final reportGAA15CA221
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Date
2015-08-11
Location
Clanton, AL, USA
Airport
02A
Aircraft
BELL 47D1
Registration
N74823
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot's abrupt cyclic and collective inputs during the approach to land which resulted in abnormal runway contact and a subsequent tail boom strike by the main rotor blades.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that while conducting an approach to landing, terminating at a three foot hover, the student pilot "pulled back on the cyclic and dumped collective", which caused the main rotor blades to contact the tail boom after the helicopter impacted the ground "hard". The flight instructor reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tail boom and to the empennage.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents2

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