# NTSB MIA00LA097: Hughes TH-55, N9518K, Odessa, FL, February 28, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 28, 2000, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Odessa, FL
- Coordinates: 28.129682, -82.589279 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1297&lon=-82.5893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA097
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48684/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA097

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper use of flight controls (cyclic and col lective) during a autorotation resulting in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - ground
  - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting an autorotation with turn. He sta rted his deceleration between 75 to 100 feet. The helicopter was not slowing down, he applied aft cyclic and the helicopter entered into a vertical rate of descent. Collective pitch was increased,  the helicopter struck the ground in a tail low attitude separating the tail boom , and rolled over on it's right side.

## Factual narrative

On February 28, 2000, at about 1030 eastern standard time, a Hughes TH-55, N9518K, registered to Pasco County Mosquito Control, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 training flight crashed during a training autorotation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The pilot departed from a private state heliport about 30 minutes before the accident.

The pilot stated he was conducting an autorotation with turn. He started his deceleration between 75 to 100 feet. The helicopter was not slowing down, he applied aft cyclic and the helicopter entered into a vertical rate of descent. Collective pitch was increased, the helicopter collided with the ground in a tail low attitude separating the tail boom, and rolled over on its right side.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9518K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9518K-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 66-18272 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Hughes TH-55
- Registry model: [Hughes TH-55](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-th-55) (registry code 4471002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 66-18272
- Airframe hours: 6669
- Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pasco County Mosquito Control
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 23, 1999, 42 hours before
- Departed: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,592 total, 153 in this make and model, 1,938 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA

## 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 20000228004549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000228004549A), Feb 28, 2000: Hughes TH55, Odessa, FL, Substantial damage. On February 29, 2000, at 1030 hrs. (EST), a Hughes 269 (TR55) helicopter owned by pasco county mosquito control and operated by[privacy data omitted]crashed…

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.

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