CHI06TA033

During a public use solo instructional flight the helicopter sustained substantial damage when it nosed over in a rocky, uneven field during a precautionary landing following an observed split in rotor/engine tachometer readings and an audible low rotor rpm alarm in cruise flight. The pilot perceived a mechanical emergency and performed a precautionary landing. The control box, tachometer cable, and tachometer were examined. The control box warning circuitry was not operational when first checked and operated after repair of an open circuit found on the circuit board. No anomalies were detected with the tachometer. Visual examination of the cable revealed indications of excessive wear and possible binding with windup of the outer strands. Binding of the cable is consistent with a bouncing tachometer needle.

History of flight

On November 18, 2005, about 1430 central standard time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N400PD, operated by the City of Topeka Police Department, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a precautionary landing near Manhattan, Kansas, following an observed split in rotor/engine tachometer readings and an audible low rotor rpm alarm during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The solo instructional flight was being conducted as public use under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A visual flight rules flight plan was on file. The pilot was taken to the hospital for observation and he reported no injuries. The flight originated from the Philip Billard Municipal Airport, near Topeka, Kansas, about 1330 and was en route to the Emporia Municipal Airport, near Emporia, Kansas, at the time of the accident.

The pilot's accident report, in part, stated:

At or near 15 miles East of Manhattan, I descended to approx 2500

[feet above mean sea level] MSL after listening to [Automated

Surface Observing Systems] ASOS for current winds and runway

information for landing traffic at Manhattan airport. I recall the

surface winds were within 30 degrees of Runway 210 with winds

within my ability and not a concern. Pattern altitude at Manhattan for

light aircraft is 1900 MSL putting my position about 600 ft. [above

ground level] AGL directly East of the field inbound landing. The

traffic pattern was for left traffic with a restricted (hot) zone to the North

of the field. I expected Tower instructions to have me either report 45

degrees for left downwind runway 21, or left base runway 21. Having

flown to Manhattan in the past I recall the Kansas River being just

South of Runway 13/31 near the field.

When I passed 8 miles I was preparing to announce my position and

intensions e.g. (Manhattan Tower 400PD eight miles East inbound

landing, Stop and Go). The collective friction was not on, I maintained

level flight and I was enjoying the flight. I had crosschecked my GPS

position and heading and was on coarse 273 degrees as desired with

airspeed of 75 [knots] Kts. As I was looking for ground reference landmarks to

the airport, I heard the low rotor horn/alarm. I did not have any unusual

attitude or noted decrease in airspeed. When this occurred I checked the

RPM gage and expected it to be at the top of the green arc with a minor

power increase necessary to resolve the alarm (3,000 RPM to 3,100

expected). What was indicated however was a large split in the needles

(engine rpm vs. rotor speed) with the rotor rpm at the bottom of the green

arc. I did not understand why I had this reading but knew if correct, there

was a mechanical emergency. At this time I noted three indications of a

problem. The large split in needles engine rpm vs. rotor rpm), the audible

horn heard that alerted me initially, and now a high-low engine sound that

I had not heard in normal flight (Similar to the throttle corelator sound at

the end of the day after the rotor system has been disengaged, prior to

the engine mixture being pulled at 100 rpm). I did not induce throttle

and take it away and I could not explain what had happened causing the

readings and alarm. I recall lots of movement in the shared rotor/engine

gages, with the needles vibrating. At the same time I entered autorotation

with a full down collective and then concentrated outside of the aircraft. I

had Manhattan Tower in my #1 radio Manhattan ASOS in radio #2 and

was able to send a distress call to the control tower. I recall saying

something similar to "Mayday, Mayday, 400 Papa Delta 8 miles West

(meaning to say East)-unknown what direction was said to the tower. The

tower responded to me but I do not recall my reply. Days later Manhattan

Tower stated I repeated my distress and reported a mechanical.

The previous seconds and those following felt very fast with many things

happening at once. I recall them in fragments. Attitude ok. Pick a spot,

ok. Winds at Manhattan southwest, Airspeed (55-60kts ideal), ok. On

short final the terrain was not as flat as I had thought but I was committed

and did not feel I had the inertia (stored energy) or skill to try for an

alternate (more flat) spot South and West before touchdown. I was

mentally preparing for landing reminding myself to be ready on the

anti-torque pedals, that this was not a power recovery maneuver (which

we recover from at 50 ft during training) and my flare would be much

closer to the ground. The engine was making the same high low rpm

sound as I stated earlier and my landing point was a downhill slope. I

started my flare. The cyclic was brought back and slightly left into my Left

thigh. I remember the spot where the flight control touched my leg. I

also remember thinking my forward ground speed did not slow as much

as I expected but now it was time to pull all available power (raise the

collective) and contact was made.

Once I had touched the helicopter began to slide. The contact was hard

but not much harder than a high hovering autorotation. The ship was

intact. The terrain was rough, uneven, and rocky. My forward slide felt

fast. I felt an impact with something, slowed rapidly and flipped

forward. I do not remember seeing the limestone that caught the

searchlight or skid and could not have avoided it if I had. During the

forward roll/flip of the helicopter, it disintegrated. The next thing I

recall was being inverted in my harness and needing to get free and away

fearing a potential fire.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate was issued on October 19, 2004, without limitations. The pilot reported that he had logged a total time of 236 flight hours. He indicated 56 of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter and of which 8 were as pilot-in-command of the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

Aircraft information

N400PD was a Schweizer 296C, serial number S1833, helicopter. The helicopter had a three-bladed, fully articulated single main rotor system and was powered by a Lycoming HIO-360-D1A engine rated at 190 hp at 3,200 rpm. Power was transmitted from the engine through a V-belt drive system and a tail rotor drive shaft transmitting power to two variable pitch tail rotor blades through a tail rotor transmission. The fuselage had a central, tubular steel, open frame construction. The canopy and door transparent areas were of cast acrylic construction. The seat structure was an assembly that included riveted aluminum beams, frames, bulkheads, and supports. The helicopter was reported to be configured with two seats. The landing gear was a non-retractable skid type with its crossbeams providing attachment for struts and oleo-type shock-absorbing dampers.

The aircraft's maintenance instructions, in part, stated:

The AES/STAR system consists of a solid state electronic control

unit, a special dual tachometer with electrical encoders, a special

clutch engagement switch, a weight on skids switch, a red ROTOR

LOW RPM Light, a warning horn, a TEST/MUTE HORN button, an

AUTO ENGAGE function switch, an AES/ROTOR WARN circuit

breaker and associated wiring. The system monitors engine and rotor

speed (RPM) at the dual tachometer and sends signals to the control

unit. Depending on operational mode the system provides three

separate functions. During engine startup, the limiter will ground the

magnetos at approximately 1800 RPM, to prevent an overspeed

condition that may damage the lower pulley coupling shaft.