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August 6, 2020 · Hughes 369A No Series · N911EP

St Louis, MO

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 6, 2020
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
St Louis, MO
Aircraft
Hughes 369A No Series
Tail Number
N911EP
Operator
St Louis County Police Department
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN20CA326

The instructor reported that during the instructional flight, he was manipulating the controls and accepted the option to land on the taxiway; he decreased the throttle for a full touchdown auto rotation. About 50 ft above the ground (agl), he flared the helicopter and leveled off about 5 to 10 ft agl. The instructor reported that everything seemed "normal" at this point. He then raised the collective, but the descent was not arrested, so he raised the collective full up. The helicopter landed hard and shook violently. The instructor closed the throttle to which stopped the fuel supply. The tailboom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor added that he felt a slight tailwind after exiting the helicopter and that the tail wind caused a "vortex ring state" which stalled the main rotor blades.

NTSB Probable Cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control which resulted in a hard landing while preforming a practice autorotation.

Full Narrative

The instructor reported that during the instructional flight, he was manipulating the controls and accepted the option to land on the taxiway; he decreased the throttle for a full touchdown auto rotation. About 50 ft above the ground (agl), he flared the helicopter and leveled off about 5 to 10 ft agl. The instructor reported that everything seemed "normal" at this point. He then raised the collective, but the descent was not arrested, so he raised the collective full up. The helicopter landed hard and shook violently. The instructor closed the throttle to which stopped the fuel supply. The tailboom was substantially damaged. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor added that he felt a slight tailwind after exiting the helicopter and that the tail wind caused a "vortex ring state" which stalled the main rotor blades.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:15 CDT
Nearest AirportSpirit Of St Louis Airport (0nm)
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369A No Series
Tail NumberN911EP
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSt Louis County Police Department
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls Royce · 250-c20C · Turboshaft

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 51 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 39 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time19:54
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data