Etheridge Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saluda, South Carolina 29138
Saturday, August 19, 1989 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF TO A HOVER THE HELICOPTER ROLLED RIGHT. LEFT CYCLIC WAS APPLIED BY THE INSTRUCTOR WHO REALIZED THAT THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION WAS ALSO APPLYING LEFT CYCLIC. AS THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED TO ROLL RIGHT THE INSTRUCTOR LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE. HOWEVER THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED ROLLING UNTIL THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD SEPARATED. THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THE FLIGHT CONTROLS HAD FEEL AND THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL VIBRATIONS. THE FRACTURED MAIN ROTOR MAST HAD EXCESSIVE POROSITY BUT FAILED IN OVERLOAD. A GOUGE WAS FOUND IN THE GROUND INDICATING THAT THE RIGHT SKID REAR TIP DRAGGED DURING THE LIFT-OFF AND PRECIPITATED THE DYNAMIC ROLL OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

STUDENT PILOT'S IMPROPER USE OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DURING LIFT-OFF AND INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALUDA
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29138
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ETHERIDGE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 500
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 95
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1896
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41018
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8773F
NTSB Number ATL89LA199
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier 269-A
Aircraft Serial Number 620097
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 11 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2159
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RANDLE, ROBERT A./JANE M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address ROUTE 2, BOX 367-A
Aircraft Owner City TIMMONSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29161
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 9 2002 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --