# Accident 19980511037189A: Hughes TH55, Alexandria Bay, NY, May 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 11, 1998, 20:30 local time
- Place: Alexandria Bay, NY
- Airport: Maxson Airfield Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.3303° N, 75.9103° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3303&lon=-75.9103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8045H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8045H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes TH-55 (registry code 4471002, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH55
- Reported engine: LYC HIO360B1A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 440 total, 71 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980511037189A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING INSTRUCTION FROM A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRACTICING TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATIONS TOWARDS ATTAINING HIS INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE. THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING THE AUTOROTATION, THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.  THE LEFT SKID THEN SEPARATED AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE HELICOPTER, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HAD TAKEN THE CONTROLS. HE SAID THE INSTRUCTOR WAS A RELATIVELY NEW INSTRUCTOR.  THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MIGHT HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO CORRECT A MORE EXPERIENCED PILOT.  THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED OVER 440 HOURS OF ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE INCLUDING, 41 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.  THE PILOT REPORTED OVER 3,420 HOURS OF ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING 63 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.  SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT THE INSTRUCTOR WITHOUT SUCCESS.    (-23) PILOT INITIATED A POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATION AT APPROXIMATELY 50' AGL. INSTRUCTOR TOLD PILOT TO FLARE. FLARE INITIATED AND PILOT ATTEMPTED TO JOIN ROTOR & ENGINE RPM. AIRCRAFT HAD A HIGH SINK RATE, FELL THROUGH, AND ST RUCK GROUND HARD, ROLLING ON LEFT SIDE.

## 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 IAD98LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA057), May 12, 1998: Hughes 269A (N8045H), Alexandria Bay, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the pilot to maintain rotor rpm during practice autorotation, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision.

## Other reports on N8045H (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20240601009079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240601009079A), Jun 1, 2024: Hughes TH-55 (N8045H), Danbury, NH, Destroyed. On 06/01/2024 at approximately 1248 local a TH55 helicopter departed klci airport enroute to a local residence in Danbury NH on a solo training flight. The…
- [Accident 20190313001269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190313001269A), Mar 13, 2019: Hughes TH-55 (N8045H), Keene, NH, Substantial damage. Pilot in cruise flight at 500 feet AGL (helicopter)had a bird strike about two miles north of the Keene (een) dillant-hopkins airport in NH. A 2' by 2'…

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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