# Accident 19970328003999A: Hughes TH55A, Cullman, AL, March 28, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 1997, 16:45 local time
- Place: Cullman, AL
- Airport: Folsom Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Scud Running
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.1698° N, 86.8293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1698&lon=-86.8293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N818D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818D-2013-03-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming HIO-360 series (registry code 41524, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55A
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,287 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA103) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970328003999A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ENGINE QUIT NEAR AIRPORT. TOO LOW AND SLOW FOR AUTOROTATION ACCORDING TO CFI. SHOS ENGINE RUNNING. ROTOR DECAY. (-23) ON MARCH 28, 1997 AT 16:45 CST A HUGHES TH-55, N818D, IMPACTED THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SOUND OF ENGINE OVERSPEED. THE FLIGHT WAS A LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  THE CFI WAS THOMAS J HUT 417626461, THE STUDENT WAS SHANNON P BAND, DD1440925.  THE CFI STATED THAT THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ROTATIONAL DAMAGE.  THE CFI WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.  NO EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT MALFUNCTION COULD BE FOUND.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA103), Mar 28, 1997: Hughes TH-55 (N818D), Cullman, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot-in-command's failure to maintain control of the helicopter. Factors in this accident were: an improper autorotation as a result of…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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