Accident Details
On June 10, 2017, at approximately 1320 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter bearing registration N7482F sustained substantial damage in a ground resonance event at Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport (TVR) in Tallulah, Louisiana. The helicopter, owned by Wade and Son, Inc., was being operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating when the incident occurred.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, the cyclic trim had not been re-centered before takeoff as specified in the checklist, remaining in a nearly full forward position from a previous flight. The engine start and run-up were normal. As the pilot applied full power for takeoff, the helicopter began to vibrate. He rolled the throttle off and lowered the collective, but the vibrations worsened, and the helicopter "began to destroy itself." The pilot noted that if the cyclic had been centered, the vibrations would have stopped; however, with the trim full forward, the rotor blades struck the stops, causing the vibrations. He added that there were no malfunctions or failures with the helicopter before the accident.
Postaccident Examination
After the helicopter came to rest upright on the airport ramp, an examination revealed that the engine had partially separated from the airframe and the main rotor gearbox had separated from the rear bulkhead. The landing skid dampers appeared intact, with no visible damage or fluid leakage.