NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
REPORT
Full narrative available
General Information
Data Source: NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
Report Number: LAX97LA021
Local Date: 10/17/1996
Local Time: 12:50 MST
State: AZ
City: MESA
Airport Name: FALCON FLD
Airport Id: FFZ
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Injury Severity: MINOR
Report Status: FINAL
Mid Air Collision: NO
Operations Information
Category of Operation: GENERAL AVIATION
Aircraft Type: HELICOPTER
Aircraft Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
Phase of Flight: 570 LANDING
Aircraft Make/Model: HUGHES HU-369-E
Operator Doing Business As:
Operator Name: MD HELICOPTER SYSTEMS
Operator Code:
Operator:
Owner Name: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Narrative
A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS ADMINISTERING DUAL I NSTRUCTION
TO A CERTIFICATED PILOT. A RECENTLY SEEDED AND IRRIGATED GRASS LANDING
AREA WAS SELECTED FOR PRACTICE (TOUC HDOWN) AUTOROTATIONS. THE GRASS
SURFACE WAS WET AND UNEVEN. THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN THE
SOD DURING THE LAN DING GROUND RUN, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO IT'S
RIGHT SIDE. BOTH PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT THE ROLLOVER BY APPL YING
FULL LEFT CYCLIC WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE WAS A LEFT 5-KNOT CROSSWIND
REPORTED BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER A T THE TIME.
Sequence of Events
Occurrence #: 1 380 ROLL OVER
Phase of Operation: 570 LANDING
Findings
Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor
1b. 24545(S) - 3141(M) - 4103(P)
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - SIMULATED - PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI)
2b. 24029(S) - 3139(M) - 4103(P) Cause
UNSUITABLE TERRAIN OR TAKEOFF/LANDING/TAXI AREA - SELECTED - PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI)
3b. 24520(S) - 3135(M) - 4101(P)
AUTOROTATION - PERFORMED - DUAL STUDENT
4a. 19001(S) - 2440(M)
AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - GRASS
5a. 19001(S) - 2425(M) Factor
AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - SOFT
6a. 19001(S) - 2500(M) Factor
AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - WET
7a. 20000(S) - 2203(M) Factor
WEATHER CONDITION - CROSSWIND
7b. 24801(S) - 3001(M) - 4001(P)
DYNAMIC ROLLOVER - -
Probable Cause
THE SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
(CFI). FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SOFT/WET TERRAIN IN THE
SELECTED LANDING AREA, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.
Aircraft Information
Number of Seats: 4
Aircraft Use: INSTRUCTIONAL
Type of Operation: 14 CFR 91
Domestic/International:
Passenger/Cargo:
Registration Number: 842LA
Air Carrier Operating Certificates:
Aircraft Fire: NONE
Injuries
Fatal Serious Minor None
Crew 0 0 1 1
Pass 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0
Invlvd 0 0 1 1
Landing Gear: HIGH SKID
Certificated Maximum Gross Weight: 3000
Engine Make: ALLISON
Engine Model: 259-C20B
Number of Engines: 1
Engine Type: TURBO SHAFT
Environment/Operations Information
Basic Weather Conditions: VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)
Wind Direction (deg): 140
Wind Speed (knots): 5
Visibility (sm): 50
Visibility RVR (ft): 0
Visibility RVV (sm): 0
Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 25000
Visibility Restrictions: NONE
Precipitation Type: NONE
Light Condition: DAYLIGHT
Departure Airport Id: FFZ
Departure City:
Departure State:
Destination Airport Id:
Destination City:
Destination State:
Flight Plan Filed: COMPANY (VFR)
ATC Clearance: NONE
VFR Approach/Landing: SIMULATED FORCED LANDING
Event Location: ON AIRPORT
Pilot-in-Command
Certificates: COMMERCIAL, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
Ratings:
Plane: SINGLE ENGINE LAND
Non-Plane: HELICOPTER
Instrument: HELICOPTER
Had Current BFR: YES
Months Since Last BFR: 19
Medical Certificate: CLASS 2
Medical Certificate Validity: VALID MEDICAL-NO WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS
Flight Time (Hours)
Total : 8360 Last 24 Hrs : 3
Make/Model : 3000 Last 30 Days: 32
Instrument : 111 Last 90 Days: 51
Multi-Engine: 0 Rotorcraft : 8275
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