Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary MKC82DA155

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, USA

Aircraft #1

N57807

AEROSPATIALE AS-355F

Analysis

THE AIRCREW LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER WHILE MAKING A PEDAL TURN AT 800 TO 900 AGL. AFTER 5 ROTATIONS, THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND, BOUNCED, ROLLED AND FELL ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. SWITCHES WERE CUT AND THE CREW MADE AN EXIT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MALFUNCTIONS. IN THE HELICOPTER HANDBOOK, IT SAYS TO "USE PEDALS TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE. DO NOT USE TO ASSIST THE TURN." IN INVESTIGATIVE FLIGHT TESTS, MISUSE OF THE PEDALS RESULTED IN A SPINNING TUCKED DESCENT UNTIL RECOVERY WAS INITIATED.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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