Accident Hughes 500C N506WW, Saturday 8 October 1988

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Date:	Saturday 8 October 1988
Time:	12:50 LT
Type:	Hughes 500C
Owner/operator:	Tablerock Helicopters Inc.
Registration:	N506WW
MSN:	150699S
Total airframe hrs:	3745 hours
Engine model:	Allison 250-C20
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Branson, MO - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Executive
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED FOR SIGHTSEEING WITH 5 PASSENGERS ONBOARD. THE PILOT TURNED ON FINAL APPROACH WITH 35 KNOTS OF AIRSPEED AND ENCOUNTERED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE NOTED A SPLIT TACH AND INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION, BUT WAS OUTSIDE THE ENVELOPE FOR A SAFE RECOVERY. THE SKIDS COLLAPSED IN THE RESULTING HARD LANDING, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. METAL FLECKS WERE FOUND IN THE FREEWHEELING SPRAG ASSEMBLY, WHICH HELD VERY LITTLE OIL, BUT NO EVIDENCE OF SLIPPAGE WAS FOUND.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: