Final Report: Ground resonance destroyed helicopter | Aviation International News

Final Report: Ground resonance destroyed helicopter

Enstrom 480, Goshen, Ind., Aug.

By Mary F. Silitch

April 2, 2008

Enstrom 480, Goshen, Ind., Aug. 5, 2005–The NTSB determined the landing accident was caused by “ground resonance experienced by the pilots.” The student pilot/owner was flying the turbine helicopter, accompanied by a 2,107-hour CFI, when it experienced ground resonance and disintegrated. The helicopter’s tail was sheared from the body and landed 30 feet away, the front seats about 10 feet away. The instrument panel lay in pieces near the fuselage. One occupant suffered serious injury; two had minor injuries.

The CFI stated that the student smoothly lowered the collective and set the helicopter on the ground as he was rolling off the power. The helicopter then “started to bounce” (ground resonance), and the CFI reached down to make sure the collective was down and the power was off. The helicopter continued to “shake violently and ripped itself apart.”

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