# NTSB ERA10CA255: Hughes 500, N5189K, West Palm Beach, FL, May 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 6, 2010, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: West Palm Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.840833, -80.224998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8408&lon=-80.2250&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA255 ## Probable cause The commercial pilot's improper flare during a simulated autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The certificated commercial helicopter pilot reported that he was practicing autorotations with a certificated flight instructor (CFI). The CFI stated that the first autorotation "went well," and ended with a "nice cushioned landing." During the second autorotation, the commercial pilot flared 100 feet above the ground and applied cyclic control to cushion the landing. The helicopter "settled abruptly," impacted the taxiway firmly, and bounced. A main rotor blade struck and partially severed the tail boom. No preaccident mechanical anomalies were noted with the helicopter. ## Factual narrative The certificated commercial helicopter pilot reported that he was practicing autorotations with a certificated flight instructor (CFI). The CFI stated that the first autorotation "went well," and ended with a "nice cushioned landing." During the second autorotation, the commercial pilot flared 100 feet above the ground, and applied cyclic control to cushion the landing. The helicopter "settled abruptly," impacted the taxiway firmly, and bounced. A main rotor blade struck and partially severed the tail boom. No pre-accident mechanical anomalies were noted with the helicopter. The flight instructor had accumulated 1,660 hours of total flight experience, which included 6 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. The commercial pilot had accumulated 750 hours of total flight experience, which included 345 hours in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5189K (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 500 (E) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0095E - Airframe hours: 5902 - Engines: Allison 250-C20 278 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: County of Gwinnett Georgia - Registered owner: County of Gwinnett Georgia - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2010 - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: F45, North Palm Beach County, runway 26R, 3,700 × 75 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 749 total, 345 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,260 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100506033189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100506033189A), May 6, 2010: Hughes Heli 369E, West Palm Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Berlin was giving flight instruction to marcus head. On the second auto rotation they flared and impacted the ground. The rotor blades struck the tail boom and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75956. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 614 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Redacted.PDF - Pilots Statements (item 2, .PDF, 183 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330615&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilots%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Helicopter Accident/Incident Checklist Supplement (item 3, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Accident%2FIncident%20Checklist%20Supplement-Master.PDF - Helicopter Flight Manual Checklist (excerpt) (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Flight%20Manual%20Checklist%20(excerpt)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1: View of helicopter postaccident (Provided by Federal Aviation Administration) (item 5, .PDF, 442 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330567&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20View%20of%20helicopter%20postaccident%20(Provided%20by%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration)-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.