Hughes TH-55 N2KX

Summary

On 6 June 2005 at about 22:00 local time, a Hughes TH-55 registered N2KX was involved in an accident near Paintsville, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2005 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Paintsville, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Paintsville-Prestonsburg-Combs (3I6)

Coordinates

37.7408, -82.7739

Aircraft

Hughes TH-55

Registration

N2KX

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paintsville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD05LA075

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's inadvertent encounter with ground resonance which resulted in destruction of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to perform a cyclic-rigging check, and a rotor-rpm check during autorotation. The pilot and a friend performed a preflight inspection, and neither noted any mechanical deficiencies. The pilot started the helicopter, and performed the run-up checks, to include the magneto check and the rotor-engagement check with the helicopter "light on the skids." The pilot then completed the before takeoff checks, and initiated a takeoff to a hover. As the pilot applied collective pitch and power for takeoff, he felt a few bumps. He was aware of the phenomena of ground resonance, and continued applying collective pitch and power, but the helicopter would not take off. Within seconds, he had no control of the helicopter, as it disintegrated around him. The friend's version of the events leading up to the accident was consistent with the pilot/owner's. According to the witness, "It happened so fast! It started to shake, a blade hit the tailboom, and it shook to pieces." He added that the helicopter never left the ground, and that it rocked side-to-side two or three times before it came apart.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.