Incident
A training flight encountered a loss of control while on final approach to land. The aircraft, flown by a student pilot under the supervision of a flight instructor, was following two Life Flight helicopters that were also on approach.
Sequence of Events
According to the student pilot, the airplane was trailing the helicopters by about 30 seconds. When the helicopters turned right toward the ramp area approximately 500 feet before the end of the runway, the student continued the approach. At an altitude of 100-150 feet above ground level and an airspeed of 60 knots, the airplane suddenly rolled to the right about 90 degrees. The flight instructor immediately took over the controls and righted the aircraft. However, the airplane then began to settle to the ground in a nose-down attitude. It collided with terrain about 200 feet short of the runway end and slid approximately 60 feet before coming to rest.
Investigation
A post-accident inspection of the flight control system revealed no mechanical failure or malfunction. The operator of the aircraft expressed the belief that wake turbulence generated by the helicopters may have contributed to the sudden roll and subsequent collision with the ground.