WESTERLY, RI, USA
N580H
ENSTROM F-28C
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT AFTER EXECUTING SEVERAL STRAIGHT-IN AND 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS THEY DECIDED TO ATTEMPT SOME HOVERING AUTOROTATIONS. AFTER EXECUTING THE FIRST ONE SUCCESSFULLY IN A TAILWIND SITUATION, THE STUDENT INITIATED THE SECOND ONE, STILL DOWNWIND, FROM A STABILIZED 3 TO 5 FOOT HOVER. THE CFI STATED THAT THE NOSE OF THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO PITCH DOWN VERY ABRUPTLY AND BOTH HE AND THE STUDENT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS MAINTAINED; HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND WITH THE MAIN ROTORS AND THE FORWARD PORTION OF THE SKIDS. THE HELICOPTER THEN ROCKED BACK TO A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND WAS SHUT DOWN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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