What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On November 11, 2024, at 1030 hours, a Bell 505 helicopter encountered an accident during autorotation training at Rusty Allen airport (ryw) in Lago Vista, Texas. The instructor seated on the left was teaching straight in autorotation with power recovery to the student occupying the right seat. Runway 33 was in use with clear skies and wind 360 at 06. During the 5th autorotation performed, the maneuver was stable in all parameters but the power switch was not returned from idle to fly by the instructor before the final flare and the helicopter made firm contact with the ground. Aircraft impact to the ground resulted in substantial damage to the skids and tail boom.
As the FAA filed it
ON NOVEMBER 11, 2024, AT 1030 HOURS, A BELL 505 HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERED AN ACCIDENT DURING AUTOROTATION TRAINING AT RUSTY ALLEN AIRPORT (RYW) IN LAGO VISTA, TEXAS. THE INSTRUCTOR SEATED ON THE LEFT WAS TEACHING STRAIGHT IN AUTOROTATION WITH POWER RECOVERY TO THE STUDENT OCCUPYING THE RIGHT SEAT. RUNWAY 33 WAS IN USE WITH CLEAR SKIES AND WIND 360 AT 06. DURING THE 5TH AUTOROTATION PERFORMED, THE MANEUVER WAS STABLE IN ALL PARAMETERS BUT THE POWER SWITCH WAS NOT RETURNED FROM IDLE TO FLY BY THE INSTRUCTOR BEFORE THE FINAL FLARE AND THE HELICOPTER MADE FIRM CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. AIRCRAFT IMPACT TO THE GROUND RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SKIDS AND TAIL BOOM.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.