Hughes TH 55 accident near Morganton, North Carolina, May 5, 2015
On May 5, 2015 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1969 Hughes TH 55 (helicopter), registered N7089S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Morganton, North Carolina (Foothills Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's delayed flare during a simulated auto rotation, which resulted in a tail rotor strike and rollover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2015 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morganton, North Carolina · Foothills Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes TH 55 NO SERIES, built 1969 · all TH 55s on the register
- Registration
- N7089S · no longer on the register · serial 67-16817
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a local flight a flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction remained in the traffic pattern to practice simulated auto rotations. The flight instructor reported that he was demonstrating a straight-in auto rotation with a full touchdown landing. He stated he flared too late, the tail rotor blades impacted the ground and the tail rotor assembly separated. Subsequently, the helicopter skidded on the grass and rolled over on its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the tail boom. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during landing
- Tailstrike during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Roll over during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,050 as pilot in command; 650 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,434 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 1,336 as pilot in command; 98 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 21, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,891.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,491 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-B1A (piston); 588 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRN Morganton NC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MRN Morganton NC
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from KMRN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.