NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ATL87LA256
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
ONE CFI WAS DEMONSTRATING HIS PROCEDURES FOR AUTOROTATIONS WITH POWER RECOVERY TO HIS EMPLOYER WHO WAS ALSO A CFI. THIS WAS TO INSURE STANDARDIZATION WITHIN THE HELICOPTER PILOT SCHOOL. THE AUTOROTATION WAS ENTERED FROM ABOUT 700 FEET AGL TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. AT ABOUT 50 TO 60 FEET AGL, THE FLARE FOR LANDING WAS INITIATED AND POWER WAS APPLIED FOR THE RECOVERY. REPORTEDLY, THE APPLICATION OF POWER WAS TOO LATE FOR RECOVERY AND THE HELICOPTER CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1987_ATL87LA256.txt.
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