# Accident 20120519011819A: Hughes TH-55, Pittsfield, PA, May 19, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2012, 17:17 local time
- Place: Pittsfield, PA
- Airport: Broken Straw
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.8264° N, 79.3614° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8264&lon=-79.3614&mi=10
- Aircraft: N74914, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N74914) (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 TH-55
- Reported engine: LYCOMING HIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12CA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120519011819A

## Narrative

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

ON APPROACH TO LAND @ APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET, THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER FROM LOW ROTOR RPM.  THE STUDENT PILOT OVER CORRECTED WITH THROTTLE RESULTING IN ROTOR RPM OVERSPEED.  THE STUDENT PILOT USED INCORRECT CONTROL INPUTS TO CORRECT FOR THE RPM OVERSPEED AND LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  THE HELICOPTER TURNED RAPIDLY TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT.  THE HELICOPTER WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL OVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND CAUSING THE TAIL BOOM TO BREAK OFF AND SWING TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST 45? TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY 09 ON A HEADING OF 135?.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WITH NO INJURY TO THE STUDENT PILOT.

## 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 ERA12CA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA357), May 19, 2012: Hughes TH-55 (N74914), Pittsfield, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during an encounter with loss of tail rotor effectiveness.

## Other reports on N74914 (1)

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

- [Accident 19971209037869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971209037869A), Dec 9, 1997: N74914, Bushenll, FL, Substantial damage. Student pilot drifted, contacting trees with main rotor blades, then collided with road. (-23) on Tuesday, 9 December 1997, at 16:30 EST, Mr. Cyril elmo…

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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