Naples Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Naples, Florida 34104
Thursday, March 11, 2010 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a helicopter flight review, the pilot completed three practice autorotations to a landing. After the third landing, the pilot heard a "thud" and no longer had use of the anti-torque pedals. Upon inspection, the tail boom was found to be severed. The cut was consistent with the tip path plane of the main rotor striking the boom, likely from excessive aft cyclic application during the flare. No flight control anomalies were reported by either crewmember.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive aft cyclic imput during the flare following an practice autorotation, which resulted in main rotor blade contact with the tail boom.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Naples
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 34104
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 260908N
Event Location Longitude 0814633W
Event Location Airport Naples Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID APF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 8
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID APF
Elevation of weather observation facility 8
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.83
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27527
NTSB Notification Source FAA South Florida FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 21 2010 4:43PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8618F
NTSB Number ERA10LA172
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 369
Aircraft Series Identifier D
Aircraft Serial Number 570126D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 3249
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Collier Mosquito Control District
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Naples
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34104
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Collier Mosquito Control District
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Naples
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34104
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 APF
Departure City Naples
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code APF
Destination City Naples
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 20 2010 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record alle
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --