On April 12, 1986, a Hughes 269A (registration N8059H) operated by Grand Rapids School OF Bible was involved in an aviation accident near Lowell, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate control of the helicopter during landing, which resulted in a hard landing that caused the main rotor to flex down and sever the tailboom and tailrotor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter sustained severe damage to its tail section after a hard landing during the third of two autorotations, highlighting rotorcraft experience requirements.
What happened
The pilot had just completed two autorotations when he landed hard on the third. The main rotor flexed down severing the tailboom and tailrotor.
The investigation
Although the pilot had logged over 6000 hours flight time, he had only 51 hours total rotorcraft time. He had received his commercial helicopter rating six months prior to the accident. He had logged 2.5 hours helicopter time in the previous 180 days.
Findings
The incident underscores the importance of recent and specific rotorcraft experience, as the pilot's overall flight time did not reflect adequate proficiency in helicopters at the time of the event.
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate control of the helicopter during landing, which resulted in a hard landing that caused the main rotor to flex down and sever the tailboom and tailrotor.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…