Hughes TH-55 N9518K

Summary

On 28 February 2000 at about 15:30 local time, a Hughes TH-55 registered N9518K was involved in an accident near Odessa, Florida, United States. One person was 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

28 February 2000 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Odessa, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.1297, -82.5893

Aircraft

Hughes TH-55

Registration

N9518K

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA097

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper use of flight controls (cyclic and col lective) during a autorotation resulting in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an autorotation with turn. He sta rted his deceleration between 75 to 100 feet. The helicopter was not slowing down, he applied aft cyclic and the helicopter entered into a vertical rate of descent. Collective pitch was increased, the helicopter struck the ground in a tail low attitude separating the tail boom , and rolled over on it's right side.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.