20051110028389A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Bell 47D1 · Rancho Murieta, CA · November 10, 2005

Date: November 10, 2005 · 13:00 local
Place: Rancho Murieta, CA
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N16356
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06LA030
Reported as: Bell 47D1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 75 total75 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N16356Registered now · Bell 47D1S/N 536 · Built 1951 Airframe modelBell 47D1 Engine modelFranklin 6V4 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) While on a training flight the student pilot experienced a vibration in the anti-torque pedals. This changed to an oscillation (helicopter moving from side to side). She turned into the wind to land. During the turn she heard a loud noise and entered into an autorotation. The pilot input fore and aft cyclic, which didn't seem to help with control of the helicopter. About 35 feet above the ground (tree top level), she flared the helicopter. However, the helicopter started to spin to the right, and subsequently landed hard. The pilot stated that after touchdown the helicopter bounced back into the air where she saw the transmission fly over the cockpit. The helicopter then struck the ground in a nose down attitude.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) WHILE ON A TRAINING FLIGHT THE STUDENT PILOT EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION IN THE ANTI-TORQUE PEDALS. THIS CHANGED TO AN OSCILLATION (HELICOPTER MOVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE). SHE TURNED INTO THE WIND TO LAND. DURING THE TURN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ENTERED INTO AN AUTOROTATION. THE PILOT INPUT FORE AND AFT CYCLIC, WHICH DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP WITH CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER. ABOUT 35 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND (TREE TOP LEVEL), SHE FLARED THE HELICOPTER. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED BACK INTO THE AIR WHERE SHE SAW THE TRANSMISSION FLY OVER THE COCKPIT. THE HELICOPTER THEN STRUCK THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.

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 LAX06LA030Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportRancho Murieta, CAa separation of the tail rotor assembly due to the reverse bending fatigue fracture of a tail rotor pitch change link bolt, resulting in a loss of control of the helicopter, and a hard landing during the uncontrolled descent.Nov 10, 2005 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N16356 · 1

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

Incident 20051104028539INormal Cruise · Rancho Murieta, CA(-23) On 11/04/2005 the pilot [privacy data omitted] made an emergency landing at the Rancho Murieta Airport due to a broken tail rotor control cable. The aircraft N16356 landed without incident and there was no damage to the helicopter.Nov 4, 2005