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NTSB Report
May 9, 1990 · Hughes 269C · N58275
Fort Pierce, FL
Overview
Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 9, 1990
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Location
Fort Pierce, FL
Aircraft
Hughes 269C
Tail Number
N58275
Operator
Flight Safety International
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MIA90FA117
The helicopter was on a VFR climbout from a parallel taxiway. The CFI, who was also the PIC, was providing instruction to an ATP working towards a CFI rating. The CFI initiated a simulated engine failure at 200 feet AGL and 60 kts. The ATP began an autorotation. After completing the deceleration and initial pitch pull, the helicopter contacted the ground, bounced up, and slid to the right and rearward. The ATP saw a taxiway light and increased collective to avoid a collision, but experienced resistance on the flight controls. The CFI had not seen the taxiway light, but noticed a decay in engine/rotor RPM. He immediately applied downward pressure on the collective and left forward cyclic to stop the horizontal movement and level the helicopter. The CFI stated that he informed the ATP he had the flight controls, which could not be substantiated by the ATP. The helicopter struck the taxiway light and taxiway with the right skid, then entered a dynamic rollover.
NTSB Probable Cause
IMPROPER TOUCHDOWN DURING THE AUTOROTATION BY THE DUAL STUDENT (ATP), HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CFI, AND INADEQUATE CREW COORDINATION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE OBSTRUCTION (TAXIWAY LIGHT).
Full Narrative
THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A VFR CLIMBOUT FROM A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE CFI, WHO WAS ALSO THE PIC, WAS PROVIDING INSTRUCTION TO AN ATP WORKING TOWARDS A CFI RATING. THE CFI INITIATED A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE AT 200 FEET AGL AND 60 KTS. THE ATP BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION. AFTER COMPLETING THE DECELERATION AND INITIAL PITCH PULL, THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED UP, AND SLID TO THE RIGHT AND REARWARD. THE ATP SAW A TAXIWAY LIGHT AND INCREASED COLLECTIVE TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT EXPERIENCED RESISTANCE ON THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE CFI HAD NOT SEEN THE TAXIWAY LIGHT, BUT NOTICED A DECAY IN ENGINE/ROTOR RPM. HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE COLLECTIVE AND LEFT FORWARD CYCLIC TO STOP THE HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT AND LEVEL THE HELICOPTER. THE CFI STATED THAT HE INFORMED THE ATP, HE HAD THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, WHICH COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE ATP. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE TAXIWAY LIGHT AND TAXIWAY WITH THE RIGHT SKID, THEN ENTERED A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:03 EDT
Nearest AirportSt Lucie County Intl (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length4776 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftHughes 269C
Tail NumberN58275
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFlight Safety International
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-D1A · Reciprocating · 200
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 15 kt, gusting 25 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 15000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:07
Weather SourceWFAC