N216TV

Substantial
None

BELL 206L-3S/N: 51166

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, December 1, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA12CA095
Location
Wingate, NC
Event ID
20111202X00359
Coordinates
34.984443, -80.419166
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The certified flight instructor did not select an adequate landing site for the practice autorotation.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
BELL
Serial Number
51166
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Model / ICAO
206L-3B06T
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
7
FAA Model
206L-3

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
DEL RIO AVIATION INC
Address
5062 WING WAY
City
PASO ROBLES
State / Zip Code
CA 93446-9528
Country
United States

Analysis

The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a touchdown autorotation from an altitude of 1,500 feet above ground level to a turf runway. He stated that during the maneuver, the helicopter's sink rate seemed high, so he continued to pull pitch to arrest the descent rate. The helicopter touched down on soft turf with a slight forward speed on a downhill slope. The rear portion of the skids became momentarily stuck in the soft turf. The helicopter pitched forward after breaking loose from the turf, and the main rotor blade contacted the vertical stabilizers and tail rotor drive shaft cover, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA095