Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX90LA137

LA VERNE, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N739B

BELL 47G

Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO VIBRATE DURING TERMINATION OF A POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATION. HE STATED THAT WHEN THE COMMERCIALLY RATED STUDENT PILOT APPLIED POWER, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED POWER, BUT THE ROTOR RPM DECAYED. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WAS LATE IN TAKING THE CONTROLS AND RECOVERING THE AIRCRAFT. AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR EXAMINED THE HELICOPTER AND FOUND NO PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE HELICOPTER'S ROTOR SYSTEM BEING ALLOWED TO UNDERSPEED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER USE OF FLIGHT CONTROLS BY THE DUAL STUDENT; IMPROPER SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR; AND DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHICH ALLOWED THE IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH THE RUNWAY.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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