Hughes 369 N721RP

Summary

On 26 March 2016 at about 20:30 local time, a Hughes 369 registered N721RP, operated by Haverfield International Inc, was involved in an accident near Jamestown, North Dakota, United States. One person was 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

26 March 2016 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Jamestown, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Jamestown Rgnl (JMS)

Coordinates

46.9261, -98.6831

Aircraft

Hughes 369

Registration

N721RP

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1981

Engines

1

Operator

Haverfield International Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Ferry

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jamestown → Jamestown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA168

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's excessive descent rate while flaring during a practice autorotation with a power recovery, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was performing a practice autorotation with a power recovery, and was the sole occupant in the helicopter. He reported that the power was introduced at 200 feet above ground level (AGL) and he entered the flare at too low of an altitude. The tail rotor system impacted the soft ground adjacent to the planned landing area. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the tailboom, the tail rotor driveshaft assembly, and the tail rotor system. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration has published Advisory Circular (AC) 61-140 Autorotation Training (2013). This AC discusses the flare portion for autorotation training and states in part: Every autorotational flare will be different depending on the existing wind conditions, airspeed, density altitude, and the aircraft gross weight. This AC also discusses common errors during autorotation training and states in part: Improper flare (too much or not enough). Flaring too low or too high (AGL).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.