Hughes TH 55 N7089S

Summary

On 5 May 2015 at about 21:00 local time, a Hughes TH 55 registered N7089S was involved in an accident near Morganton, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 May 2015 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Morganton, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Foothills Regional (MRN)

Coordinates

35.8217, -81.6106

Aircraft

Hughes TH 55

Registration

N7089S

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1969

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Morganton → Morganton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA061

1 person had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's delayed flare during a simulated auto rotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike and rollover.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a local flight a flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction remained in the traffic pattern to practice simulated auto rotations. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a straight-in auto rotation with a full touchdown landing. He stated he flared too late, the tail rotor blades impacted the ground and the tail rotor assembly separated. Subsequently, the helicopter skidded on the grass and rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the tail boom. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.