Kitchens REVOLUTION MINI 500B N460AK

Summary

On 16 February 2000 at about 22:00 local time, a Kitchens REVOLUTION MINI 500B registered N460AK was involved in an accident near Hazelhurst, Mississippi, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 February 2000 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hazelhurst, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

31.8607, -90.3902

Aircraft

Kitchens REVOLUTION MINI 500B

Registration

N460AK

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA00LA092

1 person was seriously injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a practice autorotation, by allowing the rotor rpm to become inadequate to cushion the touchdown, which resulted in a hard landing, and subsequent roll over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

At an altitude of about 200 feet agl the pilot attempted a practice auto rotation into a field. According to the pilot he lowered the collective, at a forward speed of 60 mph. He then reduced the throttle. He said, '...I think I was already in trouble when I began the auto rotation from such a low altitude...[and] I also don't thing that I had the collective all the way down because...the rotor rpms apparently began to bleed down without my noticing it...at about 50 feet agl I flared...then leveled and started pulling collective. The helicopter started violently shaking...which...indicates that the rotors were trying to stall from too low rpms...I couldn't stop my decent...I don't think I powered back up with the throttle...I hit the ground fairly violently...the helicopter...roll[ed] onto its left side...and the helicopter finally came to a stop about 30 yards from the point of initial impact.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical discrepancies. According the FAA's report, the pilot '...failed to perform the autorotation correctly and impacted the earth.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.