Sikorsky S-58E N2769P

Summary

On 30 January 1988 at about 15:29 local time, a Sikorsky S-58E registered N2769P, operated by William L. Mitchell, was involved in an accident near Sanford, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

30 January 1988 at 15:29

Classification

Accident

Location

Sanford, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sanford (SFB)

Coordinates

28.8097, -81.3305

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-58E

Registration

N2769P

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

William L. Mitchell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA88LA095

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO GIVE HIMSELF A CHECKOUT IN THE HELICOPTER FOR HE BELIEVED THE FEE FOR A CHECK PLT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. DURING A SECOND ATTEMPT AT HOVER FLT HE POSITIONED HIMSELF WITH A 90 DEGREE, 12 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND. AS THE ACFT BECAME LIGHT ON THE WHEELS IT BEGAN ROLLING UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE LEFT. HIS GROUND CREW STATED THAT AT THIS POINT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE GROUND CONTACT. FULL CYCLIC CONTROL WAS NEEDED TO RIGHT THE ACFT AFTER IT BECAME AIRBORNE HOWEVER THE ACFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. A HARD LANDING WAS MADE TO GET THE ACFT ON THE GROUND UNDER CONTROL AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR FAILED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AGAIN TOUCHED THE GROUND.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.