Cirrus SR20 N407ND

Summary

On 5 December 2014 at about 21:28 local time, a Cirrus SR20 registered N407ND, operated by Cirrus LLC, was involved in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, 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

5 December 2014 at 21:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Collins-Loveland Muni (FNL)

Coordinates

40.4519, -105.0114

Aircraft

Cirrus SR20

Registration

N407ND

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Cirrus LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Collins → Fort Collins

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15LA069

1 person was seriously injured.

The student pilot’s failure to comprehend the significance of the wake turbulence that a preceding helicopter would generate during departure, which resulted in a loss of airplane control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Federal Aviation Administration wake turbulence separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot was conducting a solo flight in a Cirrus SR20 airplane at an uncontrolled airport. An airport video showed the student attempting to land on a runway about 30 seconds after the departure of a Sikorsky UH-60 helicopter. The student pilot reported that he was aware of the helicopter and that he attempted to land long. However, just before touchdown, the airplane encountered the wake turbulence of the helicopter and then entered an uncommanded steep left bank. The student attempted to counter the left bank and go around, but he was unable to maintain airplane control. The airplane subsequently impacted left of the runway and cartwheeled. Current Federal Aviation Administration pilot guidance, including the Airman's Information Manual and an advisory circular on aircraft wake turbulence, does not recommend separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter. It is likely that the student pilot did not comprehend the significance of the wake turbulence that the helicopter would generate during departure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.