# Accident 20150505006029A: Hughes TH-55, Morganton, NC, May 5, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2015, 16:50 local time
- Place: Morganton, NC
- Airport: Foothills Regional
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8217° N, 81.6106° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8217&lon=-81.6106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7089S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7089S-2018-05-31) (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: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,240 total, 63 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150505006029A

## Narrative

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

THE CFI, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS PERFORMING A FULL DOWN AUTOROTATION TO GET THE FEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE STUDENT PERFORMING ONE OF HER OWN.  THE CFI BEGAN THE MANUEVER AT 500 FEET AND FLARED 50 FEET OFF THE GROUND. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE SURFACE CAUSING THE TAIL BOOM TO BREAK.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROTATE AND FLIPPED ON ITS LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO CONTACT THE GROUND.

## 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 GAA15CA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA061), May 5, 2015: Hughes TH 55 (N7089S), Morganton, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's delayed flare during a simulated auto rotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike and rollover.

## Other reports on N7089S (1)

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

- [Incident 20060915021379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060915021379I), Sep 15, 2006: Hughes TH55 (N7089S), Asheville, NC, Minor damage. (-23) N7089S, hovered and taxied across runway 34 (avl) at 3,000 foot mark. Pilot states that left pedal stuck and he lost control of aircraft. Heliocopter…

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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