Bell UH-1H N499DF

Summary

On 7 August 1996 at about 16:00 local time, a Bell UH-1H registered N499DF was involved in an accident near Ukiah, California, 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

7 August 1996 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ukiah, California, United States

Nearest airport

Ukiah Municipal (UKI)

Coordinates

39.1202, -123.2800

Aircraft

Bell UH-1H

Registration

N499DF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willits → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96TA298

Nobody was injured.

the commercial/student pilot's improper/abrupt use of aft cyclic during the flare, and the instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter was being used on a training flight with a commercial rated (student) pilot and a flight instructor (CFI) aboard. During a straight-in autorotation, the student made a 'very gradual' flare and allowed the helicopter to descend to approximately 10 feet agl before she began rolling on the throttle. As she rolled on the throttle, she inadvertently made an abrupt aft cyclic control movement. The tail rotor and stinger then struck the ground before the CFI could regain control. The CFI stabilized the helicopter in about a 3 to 4 foot hover and noticed a vibration. As he was setting the helicopter down, the vibration became worse. During shutdown the tail rotor and tailrotor gearbox separated from the tailboom. The commercial (student) pilot's current qualification card had been issued with the provision that she receive additional training and take a reevaluation check ride. After the accident, the pilot spent 2 weeks with the Army National Guard, where she received additional training in the UH-1H helicopter. A conversation between the CDF safety officer and the National Guard instructor pilot indicated that the student continued to have difficulty with aircraft control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.