Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 750; Flight Crew Type 550
Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
I was on a final stabilized VFR approach to runway 18 at MDQ and just about to flare when I encountered significant turbulence from a Chinook helicopter; both rotors turning; that was waiting to takeoff from a spot on the grass between the touchdown zone of runway 18 and the parallel taxiway. The turbulence hit me just at about the flare and I was barely able to salvage a very hard landing. This is an airport that has significant helicopter activity. I believe some airport rules should be considered to restrict this type of helicopter operation near the approach end of the active runway as an effort to eliminate/minimize such turbulence.
C172 pilot reported a hard landing resulted after he encountered rotor wash from a helicopter operating on the ground near the approach end of the runway.