Summary
On May 05, 2015, a Hughes TH 55 (N7089S) was involved in an accident near Morganton, NC. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The flight instructor's delayed flare during a simulated auto rotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike and rollover.
During a local flight a flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction remained in the traffic pattern to practice simulated auto rotations. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a straight-in auto rotation with a full touchdown landing. He stated he flared too late, the tail rotor blades impacted the ground and the tail rotor assembly separated. Subsequently, the helicopter skidded on the grass and rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the tail boom.
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA15CA061. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N7089S.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The flight instructor's delayed flare during a simulated auto rotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike and rollover.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
During a local flight a flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction remained in the traffic pattern to practice simulated auto rotations. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a straight-in auto rotation with a full touchdown landing. He stated he flared too late, the tail rotor blades impacted the ground and the tail rotor assembly separated. Subsequently, the helicopter skidded on the grass and rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the tail boom.
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter 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# GAA15CA061