Hughes 300C N58275

Summary

On 2 March 1990 at about 19:30 local time, a Hughes 300C registered N58275, operated by Flight Safety Int'l, was involved in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 March 1990 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Vero Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Vero Beach (VRB)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Hughes 300C

Registration

N58275

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Flight Safety Int'l

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA90LA076

Nobody was injured.

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND/INSTRUCTOR PILOT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AFTER LANDING FROM A TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE RATED HELICOPTER PILOT WERE PRACTICING TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATIONS. AFTER A LANDING AND GROUND SLIDE, THEY BOTH NOTED VIBRATIONS, THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE HELICOPTER. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD STRUCK THE TAILBOOM AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVESHAFT. THE WIND AT 1450 CST WAS FROM 140 DEG AT 16 GUSTING 22 KTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.