Helicopter tail rotor strike following ground resonance

Casualties unknown • Linden, NJ, US

A helicopter experienced ground resonance during a landing for fuel, resulting in a tail rotor strike after continuous bouncing on the ground.

What happened

While attempting to land at an airport to refuel, the pilot of the helicopter performed a touchdown where the front of the landing skids made contact with the surface first, followed by the rear area of the skids. A passenger on board noted that this touchdown was harder than a landing experienced the previous day.

Following the initial contact, the aircraft encountered ground resonance. The pilot attempted to execute a liftoff to recover the aircraft; however, the helicopter remained on the ground. According to witnesses at the scene, the aircraft continued to bounce up and down while stationary on the ground until the tail rotor ultimately struck the surface.

No injuries were reported among the occupants.

Probable cause

The occurrence of ground resonance following a hard touchdown, which caused the aircraft to bounce until the tail rotor struck the ground.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-04-19 Hughes 269A accident near Linden, NJ?

A helicopter experienced ground resonance during a landing for fuel, resulting in a tail rotor strike after continuous bouncing on the ground.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-04-19 involved a Hughes 269A, registration N8084E, at Linden, NJ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The occurrence of ground resonance following a hard touchdown, which caused the aircraft to bounce until the tail rotor struck the ground.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05657. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…