Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Titusville, Florida 32780
Friday, September 23, 2005 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The instructor stated that while performing autorotation with a student, he began with an entry of 600 feet in a steady state autorotation. The deceleration was normal and upon termination of the maneuver. He felt a small vibration and saw a piece of metal fly over and to the front of the helicopter. He immediately closed the throttle and shut down the helicopter. He exited and saw the tail section had been damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's improper flare resulting in a hard landing and main rotor contact with tail boom.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/2005
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Titusville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32780
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 283053N
Event Location Longitude 0804757W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KTIX
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19042
NTSB Notification Source Operator/Helicopter Adventures
NTSB Notification Date Sep 23 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 7:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Orlando FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N39MK
NTSB Number MIA05CA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206B3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2984
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 13706
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Klokkenga Helicopter Leasing LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 47600 Blue Heron Dr. S
Aircraft Owner City Northville
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 481679243
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Helicopter Adventures Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 365 Golden Knight Blvd
Operator City Titusville
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32780
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 TIX
Departure City Titusville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code TIX
Destination City Titusville
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2005 1:06PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --