# NTSB IAD98LA024: Kaman K-1200, N135KA, Bloomfield, CT, January 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1998, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Bloomfield, CT - Location: 41.8620° N, 72.6998° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP (CT05), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8620&lon=-72.6998&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD98LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28276/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control during autorotation, which resulted in an unleveled attitude touchdown, roll over, and collision with the ground. ## Analysis The pilot was on a familiarization flight of a new helicopter. He had successfully completed hovering, several takeoffs and landings, and two hovering autorotations. He had to discontinue his maneuvers in the traffic pattern due to traffic, so he requested to use the pad near the plant. During a hovering autorotation at 5 feet AGL, the helicopter suddenly drifted to the left. Despite his efforts correcting with right cyclic, the helicopter continued to roll to the left. It touched down on the left main landing gear, followed by the nosewheel, and came to rest on its left side. Of the 12 hours the helicopter had accumulated, the pilot had 9 hours in this make and model. Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the helicopter or engine, and the pilot did not report any. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 1998, at 1150 eastern standard time, a Kaman K-1200, N135KA, was substantially damaged when it collided with the ground during a hovering autorotation at the Kaman Aerospace plant, Bloomfield, Connecticut. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated at Bloomfield, Connecticut. The pilot, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector from the Southwest Regional Rotorcraft Certification Office, said that this was a familiarization flight. He said on his first flight, he practiced takeoffs, landings, hovering, and two hovering autorotations successfully. He said that he had to discontinue his maneuvers in the traffic pattern due to another airplane in the pattern, so he requested to use the pad near the plant. During a hovering autorotation maneuver from 5 feet AGL, the helicopter drifted to the left. Despite his efforts of correcting with right cyclic, the helicopter touched down on the left main landing gear, followed by the nosewheel, rolled over, and came to rest on its left side. According to the pilot, the helicopter had accumulated over 12 flight hours, and he had over 9 hours of total flight experience in make and model. According to an FAA Inspector from the Windsor Locks Flight Standards District Office, examination of the wreckage did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction with the helicopter or engine, and the pilot did not report any. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ground ## Aircraft - Registration: [N135KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N135KA-2001-03-26), registration cancelled 2001-03-26, S/N A94-0023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kaman K-1200 - Registry model: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-aerospace-k-1200) (registry code 13027LS) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 094-023 - Airframe hours: 12 - Engines: Lycoming T53 17A-1 1700 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Kaman Aerospace Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, November 19, 1997, 12 hours before - Departed: CT05, BLOOMFIELD, CT - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: CT05, Kaman Aerospace ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 9,600 total, 9 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BDL, 10 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 19980127000649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980127000649A), Jan 27, 1998: Kaman K1200, Bloomfield, CT, Substantial damage. FAA on familerization flight. During hovering autorotation drifted. Touched down left main gear and rolled over. (.19) on January 27, 1998, at 1150 eastern… 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.