MESA, AZ, USA
N8773F
HUGHES 269
THE INSTRUCTOR WAS DEMONSTRATING A POWER RECOVERY AUTOROTATION TO A DRY RIVER BED, WHICH HE INITIATED AT 500 FEET AGL BY ROLLING OFF THE THROTTLE AND LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE. APRX 5 SECONDS LATER HE OBSERVED A CHANGE IN SOUND AND NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM AT 0. HE CONTINUED TO AUTOROTATE AND OVERSHOT THE SOFT GRAVEL AREA OF THE SOFT RIVER BED AND TOUCHED DOWN IN AN AREA COVERED WITH LARGE ROCKS. THE RIGHT SKID BROKE AND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
