CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, USA
N57807
AEROSPATIALE AS-355F
THE AIRCREW LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE MAKING A PEDAL TURN AT 800 TO 900 AGL. AFTER 5 ROTATIONS, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED, ROLLED AND FELL ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. SWITCHES WERE CUT AND THE CREW MADE AN EXIT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS. IN THE HELICOPTER HANDBOOK, IT SAYS TO "USE PEDALS TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE. DO NOT USE TO ASSIST THE TURN." IN INVESTIGATIVE FLIGHT TESTS, MISUSE OF THE PEDALS RESULTED IN A SPINNING TUCKED DESCENT UNTIL RECOVERY WAS INITIATED.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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