Hughes 369 N8618F

Summary

On 11 March 2010 at about 12:30 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N8618F, operated by Collier Mosquito Control District, was involved in an accident near Naples, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 March 2010 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Naples, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Naples Municipal Airport (APF)

Coordinates

26.1522, -81.7758

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N8618F

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Collier Mosquito Control District

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Naples → Naples

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA172

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive aft cyclic imput during the flare following an practice autorotation, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tail boom.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a helicopter flight review, the pilot completed three practice autorotations to a landing. After the third landing, the pilot heard a "thud" and no longer had use of the anti-torque pedals. Upon inspection, the tail boom was found to be severed. The cut was consistent with the tip path plane of the main rotor striking the boom, likely from excessive aft cyclic application during the flare. No flight control anomalies were reported by either crewmember.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.