HATTIESBURG, MS, USA
N9GH
Hall REVOLUTION MINI 500
The pilot stated that as he hovered forward at a brisk walk, he heard the low rotor rpm horn. He lowered the collective and the helicopter descended rapidly and touched down on the 'toes' of the skids. The helicopter bounced back into the air and the cyclic control grip separated from the cyclic control stick. The cyclic control moved to the full aft position and the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom.
On August 30, 1998, about 1500 central daylight time, a Hall Revolution Mini 500 homebuilt helicopter, N9GH, registered to an individual, landed hard at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot was not injured and the helicopter received substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that as he hovered forward at a brisk walk, he heard the low rotor rpm horn and reduced the collective control. The helicopter descended rapidly and touched down on the "toes" of the skids. The helicopter bounced back into the air and the cyclic control grip separated from the cyclic control stick. The cyclic control stick moved to the full aft position and the main rotor blades contacted the tail boom.
The failure of the pilot to maintain main rotor rpm during a forward hover and the cyclic grip separating during the resultant bounced landing resulting in the pilot losing cyclic control and the main rotor contacting the tail boom. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of total time in the make and model.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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