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FTW90LA003

1989-10-04 · NEW IBERIA, Louisiana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ARA

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE SECOND PILOT'S (UNDER INSTRUCTION) MISJUDGEMENT OF AIRCRAFT ATTITUDE DURING THE LEVEL OFF PHASE OF THE AUTOROTATION

Factual narrative

DURING THE RECURRENT TRAINING FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ANNOUNCED A FORCED LANDING AND REDUCED THE FUEL CONTROL LEVER TO FLIGHT IDLE. THE SECOND PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION AND EXECUTED THE MANEUVER IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER UNTIL TOUCHDOWN. THE SECOND PILOT FAILED TO LEVEL THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE TOUCHDOWN ON THE SOD, RESULTING IN THE REAR SKIDS CONTACTING THE GROUND FIRMLY. THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FLEXED REARWARD AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTACTED AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_FTW90LA003.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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