On June 5, 1992, an Enstrom F28A (registration N296Q) operated by William Muggleston was involved in an aviation accident near Malvern, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land in a cornfield due to poor weather, combined with the subsequent attempt to control skid sinkage which resulted in main rotor blades striking and severing the tail boom. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter pilot made a precautionary landing in a cornfield due to deteriorating weather. Upon touchdown, the skids sank into mud, causing rotor blades to strike and sever the tail boom.
What happened
The pilot initiated a precautionary landing in a cornfield as weather conditions worsened during flight. After the aircraft touched down, the front section of the skids began to sink into the soft, muddy ground.
In an attempt to prevent further subsidence, the pilot applied rearward pressure on the cyclic control stick. This maneuver caused the main rotor blades to strike the tail boom, resulting in structural damage that severed the component.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that the main rotor blades had impacted and separated the tail boom following the ground contact. The initial cause of the landing was attributed to deteriorating weather conditions requiring a precautionary stop.
Findings
deteriorating weather prompted the precautionary landing in an unprepared field.
The pilot's attempt to control sinkage by pulling rearward on the cyclic led to rotor-blade contact with the tail boom.
severed tail boom was the direct result of the rotor strike during the post-landing recovery effort.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land in a cornfield due to poor weather, combined with the subsequent attempt to control skid sinkage which resulted in main rotor blades striking and severing the tail boom.