NTSB of the Week
Date: August 27, 2025 | Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Aircraft: Bell 505 | Local Registration: N505GR | Accident Number: CEN25LA381
The manufacturer flight instructor’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and a proper descent rate during a demonstrated hover out of ground effect (HOGE) autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer flight instructor’s failure to perform corrective action during the HOGE autorotation with a power recovery in a timely manner.
Takeaways
Always perform a 100 ft Decision Check: The mindset of the instructor should be to not allow the aircraft to descend below 100 ft AGL in autorotation unless four parameters are met:
Airspeed +/- 5 kts.
Rotor RPM in the green range.
A normal rate of descent (rates vary with model helicopter).
All turns completed and proper alignment.
If any of these parameters are not met, the instructor must announce “my controls”, reintroduce the power, and commence recovery. Instructors should not talk the student through corrective action or take the controls and attempt to fix the autorotation.
Remember that a “Go Around” should always be your first option to take advantage of translational lift! Students should be thoroughly briefed on the aspects of this check and well aware of the possible outcomes.
Instructors may want to increase the decision check to 200 feet AGL based on high density altitudes (above 4000 ft), specific aircraft flare altitudes, power recovery techniques and instructor/ student experience levels.
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Last Week’s NTSB of the Week
Date: January 30, 2018 | Location: Newport Beach, California | Aircraft: Robinson R44 | Local Registration: N7530R | Accident Number: WPR18FA077
The pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations before departing on the flight, which resulted in his operation of the helicopter outside of its published weight and balance limitations and a subsequent loss of control shortly after takeoff.
Takeaways
Always conduct weight and balance calculations in accordance with the applicable rotorcraft flight manuals (RFM) to ensure that your aircraft is loaded within its weight and CG limits.
Loadings outside these limits can result in insufficient control travel for safe operation and can be fatal.
Remember that fuel burn causes CG to move forward during flight. Always determine safe loading with empty fuel as well as with takeoff.
Do not “guesstimate” the weight of passengers or cargo. The margins of error are small, and even slightly underestimating these weights could risk safety.
Check back weekly for new reports!