CH139308
Jet Ranger
2
July 2002
Southport, Manitoba
The 3 CFFTS Standards Officer was conducting a proficiency
check ride on one of the instructors from the Basic
Helicopter School in Southport. The focus of the flight
was to assess the instructor's proficiency in autorotations.
Following a brief warm up in Area North the crew proceeded
to 'Grabber Green' autorotation landing area. After
a number of successful straight ahead and 500 foot turning
autorotations, the aircraft struck the ground during
the landing portion of a 250 foot turning auto. One
crew received minor back strain injuries, the other
suffered a very serious back injury. The aircraft sustained
"A" category damage.
The accident manoeuvre was the Instructor's second
attempt at the 250 foot turning auto. As the nose of
the aircraft was pulled up for the flare both pilots
stated that the airspeed dropped right off and the aircraft
developed an excessive descent rate. The Standards Pilot
took control at this point (30 ft AGL) and concentrated
on levelling the aircraft. Throttle was applied but
seemed to have no effect in arresting the rate of descent.
The helicopter hit the ground extremely hard in a relatively
level attitude. The skid gear collapsed resulting in
belly contact with the ground. The tail boom was severed
at the attachment point to the fuselage. As the tail
boom departed the aircraft the vertical fin was cut
by the main rotor blades in two places. The helicopter
became airborne again due to impact forces and the collective
and throttle position the Standards Officer had initiated
for the overshoot. With the loss of the tail rotor,
the aircraft rotated through several revolutions due
to the main rotor torque. The Standards Officer closed
the throttle to minimize the spinning and the helicopter
came to rest in an upright position facing the original
direction of flight. The crew shut down the aircraft
and were evacuated by rescue personnel.
The investigation is focusing on the wind conditions
at "Grabber Green' and the syllabus requirements
for low level autorotations.
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