# Incident 19990810038129I: Skrsky S55, Orlando, FL, August 10, 1999

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 10, 1999, 06:55 local time
- Place: Orlando, FL
- Airport: Orlando Sanford Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.7772° N, 81.2349° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at ORLANDO SANFORD INTL (SFB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7772&lon=-81.2349&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17754, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17754-2001-11-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky/Orlando S-55 (registry code 8141605, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-orlando-s-55) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch TSE331 series (registry code 01520, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tse331-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S55
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,800 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990810038129I

## Narrative

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

(-23) MR. JAMES R. ARNOLD, FAA FLIGHT TEST PILOT, ROTORCRAFT DIRECTORATE, AIRCRAFT CERTIFICATION SERVICE, FORT WORTH, TEXAS, 76193-0170, AND CAPTAIN RON MANDER, PIC, VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^                       WERE PERFORMING FLIGHT TESTING, WHICH WAS A TYPE INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION (CERTIFICATION FLIGHT TESTS).  DURING THIS TESTING, THE ENGINE WAS CUT AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 FEET, FROM THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TOWARD THE RUNWAY IN A TAIL LOW ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN A TAIL ROTOR STRIKE.  THE TAIL MOTOR STRIKE, CAUSED SEPARATION AT THE TAIL MOTOR GEARBOX.  NO INJURIES TO THE PILOTS.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT.  NO ACTION REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WHICH PLACES THE HELICOPTER IN AN EXPERIMENTAL STATUS.

## Other reports on N17754 (1)

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

- [Accident 20000918038539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000918038539A), Sep 18, 2000: Skrsky S55 (N17754), No damage. (-23)No narrative

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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