What happened
On May 29, 2002, a Hughes 269C helicopter, registration SE-HNB, was conducting a skill test for a private pilot license at Östersund/Optand airport in Sweden. During the flight, a flight examiner unexpectedly decided to evaluate the pilot's ability to initiate an autorotation following a simulated engine failure during a climb.
As the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet, the examiner manually reduced engine power to mimic a failure. The pilot attempted the maneuver, but the airspeed dropped too low. During a subsequent attempt at the same maneuver, the pilot lowered the aircraft's nose to regain airspeed. This action resulted in an excessive rate of descent. As the helicopter approached the ground, the pilot attempted a vigorous flare, but the maneuver was too late to prevent the aircraft from striking the ground in a nose-up attitude. The impact caused the main rotor to strike the tail boom, resulting in the separation of the boom from the fuselage. The two occupants sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The Swedish Accident Investigation Board (SHK) examined the circumstances surrounding the flight, focusing on the roles of the pilot and the examiner, as well as the specific requirements for the license being tested. The investigation looked into the flight training history of the pilot, the communication between the instructor and the examiner prior to the flight, and the technical handling of the aircraft during the simulated emergency.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an excessive rate of descent following the initiation of an autorotation, which led to an ineffective flare before impact.
- A significant contributing factor was that the flight examiner subjected the pilot to a high-risk maneuver that was not required for the specific license being tested and had not been practiced by the pilot during his training.
- The examiner's decision to manipulate the flight controls (reducing power) created a sudden, hazardous situation that the pilot was unprepared to manage.
- The investigation noted a potential delay in the examiner's intervention, as the examiner's role in a skill test is to observe rather than command, which may have prevented a timely recovery.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the SHK issued recommendations to the Swedish Aviation Safety Authority to:
- Investigate and minimize specific risk factors inherent to the skill test environment.
- Enhance flight examiner training to address safety challenges that arise when the applicant holds pilot-in-command responsibility while the examiner directs the flight.
- Create clear information materials for applicants to define the specific rights, obligations, and division of responsibility between the examiner and the pilot during tests.