# NTSB MKC83FA073: Hughes TH-55A, N1040S, Council Bluffs, IA, February 25, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 25, 1983, 15:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Council Bluffs, IA
- Coordinates: 41.240222, -95.85041 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2402&lon=-95.8504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33320
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC83FA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33320/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC83FA073

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - performed, dual student (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT, WHO WAS A RATED HELICOPTER PLT, AND A HELICOPTER INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCREW REMAINED IN A RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RWY 13 , INTENDING FOR THE STUDENT TO MAKE A 180 DEG AUTOROTATION TO A PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE STUDENT OVERSHOT THE AUTOROTATIVE TURN & THE CFI INSTRUCTED HIM TO CONTINUE THE APCH TO A GRASS AREA BETWEEN THE TAXIWAY & RWY. THE CFI REPORTED THAT THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SMOOTH WITH ZERO AIRSPEED. HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN VIBRATING & TURNED TO THE LEFT. REPORTEDLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HAD SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1040S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES TH-55A
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6418194
- Airframe hours: 4356
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Iowa Western Community College
- Airport: CBF, Council Bluffs Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,200 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,020 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: OMA, 6 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 19830225005369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830225005369A), Feb 25, 1983: Hughes TH55A, Council Bluffs, IA, Substantial damage. Damage indicates a hard landing on termination of a practice autorotation. Impact started craft to self destruct.

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.