LA VERNE, CA, USA
N5697D
ENSTROM F-28C
THE CFI WAS GIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION IN PINNACLE APPROACHES TO A PRACTICE AREA PLATEAU AT 2,500 FEET MSL. A GO-AROUND WAS MADE ON THE FIRST APPROACH. ACCORDING TO THE CFI, ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SECOND APPROACH THE SIGHT PICTURE HAD STEEPENED AND HE STARTED ASSISTING ON THE CONTROLS TO REGAIN THE PROPER ANGLE. HE STATED THAT WITHIN SECONDS IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT THE WIND HAD REVERSED AND WAS NOW BEHIND THE HELICOPTER WHICH WAS SETTLING WITH POWER. THE CFI ATTEMPTED A RECOVERY; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ALTITUDE AND THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD. THE CFI STATED THAT THE WINDS AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE VARIABLE IN DIRECTION AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THERE WAS NO WIND DIRECTION INDICATOR AT THE ACCIDENT SITE.
On October 8, 1994, at 0735 hours Pacific daylight time, an Enstrom F-28C helicopter, N5697D, was substantially damaged during a hard landing approach near La Verne, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. Neither the certified flight instructor (CFI) nor the dual student were injured. The flight originated at La Verne about 0720 hours. The instructor stated that they were to practice pinnacle landings. They flew about 5 miles north to a practice area. The elevation was 2,500 feet mean sea level. A go-around was made during the first approach. During the second approach, the CFI stated that the site picture had steepened, so he started assisting on the controls to regain the proper angle. The CFI stated: "Within seconds, it became obvious that the wind had reversed and was now behind the helicopter which was settling with power." The CFI attempted a recovery; however, there was not enough altitude, and the helicopter landed hard. The instructor stated that they had planned their approach into the prevailing wind which was near calm at the time of the accident. He stated that there may have been a wind shear at the time of the approach. On the pilot/operator accident report form, the CFI reported the winds as variable at 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots. There were no formal wind direction indicators at the accident site.
an inadvertant entry into a settling with power condition and the flight instructor's inability to correct the situation due to an inadequate altitude above ground.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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