Aviation Accident Summary LAX90LA121

CANYON LAKE, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N554H

ENSTROM F-28C

Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FLYING SOLO AND PRACTICING AUTOROTATIONS TO AN UNEVENLY SLOPED OPEN FIELD. THE PILOT ALLOWED THE ROTOR RPM TO BLEED OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER THE RPM BEFORE TOUCHDOWN. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD COLLAPSING THE LEFT SKID OF THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM. THE MAIN ROTOR THEN CONTACTED THE TAILBOOM.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ROTOR RPM DURING A PRACTICE AUTOROTATION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNEVEN TERRAIN SELECTED BY THE PILOT TO CONDUCT PRACTICE TOUCH MANEUVERS.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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