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CEN22LA294

2022-06-30 · Idabel, Oklahoma, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 4O4

Current FAA registration · N378JC

Make / Model
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA 206L-4
Year of manufacture
2013 · 9 years old at event
Engine
ROLLS-ROYC 250-C30P (650 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20160719
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4524E

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to apply full power during the practice autorotation recovery, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that he and pilot receiving instruction were conducting an instructional flight to include practice autorotation maneuvers. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a straight-in autorotation with power recovery but did not apply full power as required. About 10 ft above the runway the low rotor horn sounded, and the pilot attempted to go around, but the helicopter bounced on the runway and pitched forward. The main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent rate-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Instructor/check pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Instructor/check pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Pitch control-Not attained/maintained

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_CEN22LA294.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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