N161PD

Substantial
None

BELL OH 58AS/N: 71-20559

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
NTSB Number
ERA17CA056
Location
Ponce, PR
Event ID
20161125X10532
Coordinates
18.010833, -66.563331
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
2
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The helicopter flight instructor's inadequate demonstration of a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N161PD
Make
BELL
Serial Number
71-20559
Model / ICAO
OH 58A

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Address
PO BOX 9023909
LINDBERG ST LOT ABC
Status
Deregistered
City
SAN JUAN
State / Zip Code
PR 00902-3909
Country
United States

Analysis

During an instructional flight, the helicopter was at an altitude of 40 to 50 ft above ground level, at 60 knots, when the flight instructor intended to demonstrate a simulated engine failure and run-on landing. Although the flight instructor had intended to recover from the maneuver prior to an actual run-on landing, he noticed that he did not have enough rotor rpm to recover and elected to continue with the run-on landing. The helicopter then landed hard on a taxiway and slid about 300 ft before coming to rest upright. The flight instructor added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the aft engine bulkhead and wrinkles in the helicopter panels near the tail boom and rotor gear box.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA17CA056