Ridgeland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ridgeland, South Carolina 29936
Thursday, February 24, 2011 15:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the certified flight instructor (CFI), the student pilot was conducting a practice autorotation with a planned power recovery. The helicopter’s rotor rpm was maintained throughout the maneuver and the student pilot initiated the flare during the recovery stage. The student failed to increase the throttle and the CFI did not react in time to add engine power in order to recover. The CFI subsequently took authority of the flight controls and the helicopter landed hard. The main rotor contacted the tail boom, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom, tail rotor drive shaft, and tail rotor control rod. The CFI stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The certified flight instructor's delayed remedial action during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/24/2011
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Ridgeland
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29936
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322937N
Event Location Longitude 0805931W
Event Location Airport Ridgeland Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3J1
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 79
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1556 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 98
Weather Observation Facility ID NBC
Elevation of weather observation facility 37
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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) 28341
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 2 2011 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N796M
NTSB Number ERA11CA162
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 BELL
Aircraft Model 206
Aircraft Series Identifier B
Aircraft Serial Number 3396
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 Sep 23 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LADY ALICE CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19801-1120
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name LADY ALICE CORP
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City WILMINGTON
Operator State DE
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 19801-1120
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SAV
Departure City Savannah
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 3J1
Destination City Ridgeland
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 2 2011 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2692
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --