N10375

Substantial
None

HUGHES 269AS/N: 67-18376

Accident Details

Date
Friday, October 14, 2011
NTSB Number
CEN12CA031
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Event ID
20111019X32039
Coordinates
32.819721, -97.362220
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The inadvertent entry into ground resonance after a hovering autorotation.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
HUGHES
Serial Number
67-18376
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
269A
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
269A

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
PRIOLO JOSEPH
Address
17350 NW 144TH AVE
City
OKEECHOBEE
State / Zip Code
FL 34972-7888
Country
United States

Analysis

After practicing some flight and landing maneuvers, the certified flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction decided to practice some hovering autorotations on a taxiway. With the skids on the ground for approximately 20 seconds after completing a hovering autorotation and the engine at 2,000 RPM, the helicopter began to vibrate and violently shake. The vibrations and shaking continued to increase and lasted approximately 15 to 30 seconds. After the shaking stopped, the certified flight instructor shutdown the helicopter. Postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed the tail rotor and gearbox separated, and the fuselage was bent and deformed. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter were noted that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN12CA031