What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft was doing auto rotation instruction. Two auto-rotations had been done previously, on the day of the accident. As the aircraft was slowing and nearly stopped, there was a sudden drop to the aft and left and a loud "bang" was heard by the crew. Upon exiting the aircraft, the crew found that the left aft oleo strut to the crossbeam was no longer attached. The attach bolt was missing. A search of the surrounding area was conducted and the attach bolt could not be found.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT WAS DOING AUTO ROTATION INSTRUCTION. TWO AUTO-ROTATIONS HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY, ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLOWING AND NEARLY STOPPED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN DROP TO THE AFT AND LEFT AND A LOUD "BANG" WAS HEARD BY THE CREW. UPON EXITING THE AIRCRAFT, THE CREW FOUND THAT THE LEFT AFT OLEO STRUT TO THE CROSSBEAM WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED. THE ATTACH BOLT WAS MISSING. A SEARCH OF THE SURROUNDING AREA WAS CONDUCTED AND THE ATTACH BOLT COULD NOT BE FOUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.