20161025017069A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell OH-58A · Ponce, PR · October 25, 2016

Date: October 25, 2016 · 15:00 local
Place: Ponce, PR
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N161PD
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA17CA056
Reported as: Bell OH-58A
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,800 total40 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

N161PDRegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2021 · Bell OH-58AS/N 71-20559 Airframe modelBell OH-58A

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.

While conducting flight training, flight instructor stated he was demonstrating a simulated engine failure on takeoff. During acceleration on taxiway e at around 10-15 feet AGL the helicopter experienced a sudden loss of altitude, subsequently contacting the ground hard on the aft portion of the skids bouncing foward and aft several times on the ground which resulted in a ground run of approximately 370 feet, then aircraft suddenly yawed 180 degrees to the right immediately followed by another 180 degree yaw to the left before coming to a complete stop. The helicopter remained on the ground for about one minute with engine and rotor operating. Pilot, then, picked up the aircraft to a hover and made a 180 degree left pedal turn, then accelerated down the same taxiway and executed what appears to be another running landing to a full stop, remained on the ground for about 30-40 seconds, then taxied to parking area.

As the FAA filed it

WHILE CONDUCTING FLIGHT TRAINING, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR STATED HE WAS DEMONSTRATING A SIMULATED ENGINE FAILURE ON TAKEOFF. DURING ACCELERATION ON TAXIWAY E AT AROUND 10-15 FEET AGL THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ALTITUDE, SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTING THE GROUND HARD ON THE AFT PORTION OF THE SKIDS BOUNCING FOWARD AND AFT SEVERAL TIMES ON THE GROUND WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND RUN OF APPROXIMATELY 370 FEET, THEN AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY YAWED 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER 180 DEGREE YAW TO THE LEFT BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE HELICOPTER REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE WITH ENGINE AND ROTOR OPERATING. PILOT, THEN, PICKED UP THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER AND MADE A 180 DEGREE LEFT PEDAL TURN, THEN ACCELERATED DOWN THE SAME TAXIWAY AND EXECUTED WHAT APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER RUNNING LANDING TO A FULL STOP, REMAINED ON THE GROUND FOR ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS, THEN TAXIED TO PARKING AREA.

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 ERA17CA056Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPonce, PRThe helicopter flight instructor's inadequate demonstration of a simulated engine failure, which resulted in a hard landing.Oct 25, 2016 · Substantial damage