FREMONT, CA, USA
N19NS
SCORPION 133
THE STUDENT PILOT, BUILDER OF THE HELICOPTER WAS ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP). THE STUDENT HAD ABOUT 71 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL WHILE THE IP HAD 18 HOURS. AFTER MAKING TWO LANDINGS, A DESCENDING TURN WAS MADE TO A DOWNWIND AT ABOUT 15 FT AGL TO DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AIRSPEED AND GROUND SPEED. AFTER THAT, THE IP INSTRUCTED THE STUDENT TO FOLLOW THROUGH AS HE (THE IP) WAS GOING TO MAKE A CLIMBING TURN TO POSITION THE HELICOPTER FOR A NORMAL LANDING PATTERN. DURING THE CLIMB, THE IP FELT INTERFERENCE ON THE CONTROLS FROM THE STUDENT. THE AIRSPEED DROPPED NEAR ZERO AND THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT TO START SETTLING WITH POWER. REPORTEDLY, THE IP OVERPOWERED THE CONTROLS AND STARTED A RECOVERY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID CONTACTING THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD, TILTED TO THE LEFT, AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. THE IP SAID THE STUDENT WAS RELUCTANT TO RELEASE THE CONTROLS WHEN INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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