GRAND FORKS, ND, USA
N61245
SCHWEIZER 269C
THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) REPORTED HE AND THE STUDENT PILOT WERE PRACTICING SIMULATED EMERGENCY AUTOROTATIONS TO A POWER RECOVERY. DURING THE ACCIDENT AUTOROTATION, THE CFI SAID HE ADJUSTED THE POWER TO 3100 RPM AND THEN TOLD THE STUDENT TO RECOVER. THE CFI NOTICED THAT THE HELICOPTER'S DESCENT HAD NOT BEEN ARRESTED, AND HE JOINED THE STUDENT ON THE CONTROLS. THE CFI WAS ATTEMPTING TO AUTOROTATE WHEN THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER AND ITS ENGINE DISCOVERED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES.
On September 7, 1994, about 1124 central daylight time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N61245, sustained substantial damage when it landed hard during a practice autorotation near Grand Forks, North Dakota. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot aboard reported no injuries. The local, instructional flight operated without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. The flight instructor reported he and the student had practiced several successful autorotations. The final, accident autorotation was to be with a power recovery. The instructor said he adjusted the throttle to 3100 RPM, and told the student to recover. When the rate of descent was not arrested, the instructor joined the student on the controls and attempted to autorotate just prior to ground collision. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter discovered no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. The helicopter's engine was started and accelerated without any observed deficiencies.
the pilot-in-command's (CFI) delayed recovery from a practice autorotation. A factor associated with the accident was the student pilot's improper autorotation.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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