CircumFlightN409LH accident
NTSB CEN15LA084 · 2014-12-08 · Fort Lupton, CO · near 18V
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Summary
The student pilot reported that, during a solo cross-country flight, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field. During the landing flare, the helicopter's tail struck the ground, which resulted in the main rotor blades flexing upward and severing the tail rotor from the tailboom. The helicopter then fell to the ground and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The operator test ran the engine and noted no anomalies; no further engine examination or testing was conducted.
Full narrative
On December 8, 2014, at 1115 mountain standard time, an Enstrom Helicopter, N409LH; experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The student pilot performed an autorotation to a field. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The student pilot was uninjured. The helicopter was operated by Mountain One Helicopters under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight that was operating on a flight plan. The flight last departed from Greeley-Weld County Airport, Greeley, Colorado, and was destined to Platte Valley Airpark, Hudson, Colorado.
During a solo cross country flight flown by a student pilot, the helicopter experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot performed an autorotation to a field. During landing flare, the helicopter tail struck the ground resulting in the main rotor blades flexing downwards, which severed the tail rotor boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and rotor blades. The pilot was uninjured. The engine was test run by the operator without the knowledge and permission of the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge or the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to the accident investigation. The operator stated the engine was run without any anomalies.
Probable cause
The loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Sky condition
- NONE
- Ceiling (ft)
- 0
- Visibility (sm)
- 10
- Wind direction
- 0
- Temperature (F)
- 37
- Nearest airport
- Platte Valley
- Distance from field
- 2.0
- Airport elevation
- 4965
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N409LH | — | — | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enroute-cruise Loss of engine power (total) | Climb |
| 2 | Autorotation Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) | Descent |
| 3 | Landing-flare/touchdown Hard landing defining | Cruise |
Findings
| Finding | |
|---|---|
| Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined | cause |