19960220002209A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr HMI1 · West Point, VA · February 20, 1996

Date: February 20, 1996 · 10:40 local
Place: West Point, VA
Airport: West Point Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Hovering
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N254AS
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD96LA045
Reported as: Amtr HMI1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,550 total2 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During hover uncommanded pitchdown. Misused forward cyclic. Collapsed skids. Rotors hit. Self destructed.

As the FAA filed it

DURING HOVER UNCOMMANDED PITCHDOWN. MISUSED FORWARD CYCLIC.COLLAPSED SKIDS. ROTORS HIT. SELF DESTRUCTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB IAD96LA045Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportWest Point, VAthe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during low altitude flight/maneuvering, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain. A related factor was the pilot's lack of flight experience in the make and model of helicopter.Feb 20, 1996 · Destroyed