General Information

Data Source:                          NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
   Report Number:                        LAX97LA021 
   Local Date:                           10/17/1996
   Local Time:                           12:50 MST
   State:                                AZ    
   City:                                 MESA                               
   Airport Name:                         FALCON FLD               
   Airport Id:                           FFZ   
   Event Type:                           ACCIDENT
   Injury Severity:                      MINOR  
   Report Status:                        FINAL      
   Mid Air Collision:                    NO 

Operations Information

Category of Operation:                GENERAL AVIATION       
   Aircraft Type:                        HELICOPTER     
   Aircraft Damage:                      SUBSTANTIAL      
   Phase of Flight:                      570 LANDING                                           
   Aircraft Make/Model:                  HUGHES HU-369-E                 
   Operator Doing Business As:                                         
   Operator Name:                        MD HELICOPTER SYSTEMS         
   Operator Code:                            
   Operator:                                                                       
   Owner Name:                           UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA    

Narrative

A CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WAS ADMINISTERING DUAL I NSTRUCTION 
   TO A CERTIFICATED PILOT. A RECENTLY SEEDED AND IRRIGATED GRASS LANDING 
   AREA WAS SELECTED FOR PRACTICE (TOUC HDOWN) AUTOROTATIONS. THE GRASS 
   SURFACE WAS WET AND UNEVEN. THE HELICOPTER'S RIGHT SKID CAUGHT IN THE 
   SOD DURING THE LAN DING GROUND RUN, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO IT'S 
   RIGHT SIDE. BOTH PILOT'S ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT THE ROLLOVER BY APPL YING 
   FULL LEFT CYCLIC WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE WAS A LEFT 5-KNOT CROSSWIND 
   REPORTED BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER A T THE TIME.

Sequence of Events

Occurrence #: 1  380 ROLL OVER
   Phase of Operation: 570 LANDING

           Findings
           Subject - Modifier - Personnel Cause/Factor

   1b.   24545(S) - 3141(M) - 4103(P)
         EMERGENCY PROCEDURE - SIMULATED - PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI)
   2b.   24029(S) - 3139(M) - 4103(P)  Cause
         UNSUITABLE TERRAIN OR TAKEOFF/LANDING/TAXI AREA - SELECTED - PILOT IN COMMAND (CFI)
   3b.   24520(S) - 3135(M) - 4101(P)
         AUTOROTATION - PERFORMED - DUAL STUDENT
   4a.   19001(S) - 2440(M)
         AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - GRASS
   5a.   19001(S) - 2425(M)  Factor
         AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - SOFT
   6a.   19001(S) - 2500(M)  Factor
         AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION - WET
   7a.   20000(S) - 2203(M)  Factor
         WEATHER CONDITION - CROSSWIND
   7b.   24801(S) - 3001(M) - 4001(P)
         DYNAMIC ROLLOVER -                  -                 

Probable Cause

THE SELECTION OF AN UNSUITABLE LANDING AREA BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR 
   (CFI).  FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: SOFT/WET TERRAIN IN THE 
   SELECTED LANDING AREA, AND THE CROSSWIND CONDITION.

Aircraft Information

Number of Seats:                      4  
   Aircraft Use:                         INSTRUCTIONAL      
   Type of Operation:                    14 CFR 91 
   Domestic/International:                            
   Passenger/Cargo:                                        
   Registration Number:                  842LA 
   Air Carrier Operating Certificates:   
   Aircraft Fire:                        NONE

                  Injuries
          Fatal  Serious  Minor  None
   Crew      0       0       1      1
   Pass      0       0       0      0
   Other     0       0       0      0
   Invlvd    0       0       1      1

   Landing Gear:                         HIGH SKID
   Certificated Maximum Gross Weight:    3000
   Engine Make:                          ALLISON      
   Engine Model:                         259-C20B     
   Number of Engines:                    1 
   Engine Type:                          TURBO SHAFT                 

Environment/Operations Information

Basic Weather Conditions:             VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC)  
   Wind Direction (deg):                 140
   Wind Speed (knots):                   5
   Visibility (sm):                      50
   Visibility RVR (ft):                  0
   Visibility RVV (sm):                  0
   Cloud Height Above Ground Level (ft): 25000
   Visibility Restrictions:              NONE
   Precipitation Type:                   NONE
   Light Condition:                      DAYLIGHT
   Departure Airport Id:                 FFZ 
   Departure City:                       
   Departure State:                        
   Destination Airport Id:                   
   Destination City:                     
   Destination State:                      
   Flight Plan Filed:                    COMPANY (VFR)
   ATC Clearance:                        NONE
   VFR Approach/Landing:                 SIMULATED FORCED LANDING
   Event Location:                       ON AIRPORT

Pilot-in-Command

Certificates:                         COMMERCIAL, FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
   Ratings:
     Plane:                              SINGLE ENGINE LAND
     Non-Plane:                          HELICOPTER
     Instrument:                         HELICOPTER
   Had Current BFR:                      YES
   Months Since Last BFR:                19 
   Medical Certificate:                  CLASS 2
   Medical Certificate Validity:         VALID MEDICAL-NO WAIVERS/LIMITATIONS

              Flight Time (Hours)
   Total       :   8360  Last 24 Hrs :    3
   Make/Model  :   3000  Last 30 Days:   32
   Instrument  :    111  Last 90 Days:   51
   Multi-Engine:      0  Rotorcraft  : 8275