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Atlas / NTSB / CHI88DCA01

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CHI88DCA01

1988-03-10 CAHOKIA, Illinois, United States Airport · CPS None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE INSTRUCTOR WAS GIVING A PILOT AN EMPLOYMENT EVALUATION IN THE HELICOPTER WHEN DURING THE STARTUP THE PILOT PREMATURELY ADDED FULL POWER CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROTATE RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT. THE HELICOPTER HAD BEEN POSITIONED ON A TRAILER. DURING THE UNCONTROLLED ROTATION IT STRUCK A TRACTOR, ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER, WITH THE TAIL ROTOR. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST A FEW FEET FROM THE TRAILER AFTER THE MAIN ROTOR ASSEMBLY BROKE AWAY FROM THE HELICOPTER. THE TORQUE GAUGE IN THE HELICOPTER INDICATED IN EXCESS OF 100%. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_CHI88DCA01.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.