Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's improper use of flight controls (cyclic and col lective) during a autorotation resulting in a hard landing and subsequent roll over.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was conducting an autorotation with turn. He sta rted his deceleration between 75 to 100 feet. The helicopter was not slowing down, he applied aft cyclic and the helicopter entered into a vertical rate of descent. Collective pitch was increased, the helicopter struck the ground in a tail low attitude separating the tail boom , and rolled over on it's right side.
Source record
Factual narrative
On February 28, 2000, at about 1030 eastern standard time, a Hughes TH-55, N9518K, registered to Pasco County Mosquito Control, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 training flight crashed during a training autorotation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The pilot departed from a private state heliport about 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he was conducting an autorotation with turn. He started his deceleration between 75 to 100 feet. The helicopter was not slowing down, he applied aft cyclic and the helicopter entered into a vertical rate of descent. Collective pitch was increased, the helicopter collided with the ground in a tail low attitude separating the tail boom, and rolled over on its right side.