|
Location:
|
Delta Junction, Alaska
|
Accident Number:
|
ANC21LA083
|
|
Date & Time:
|
September 6, 2021, 17:40 Local
|
Registration:
|
N125KW
|
|
Aircraft:
|
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Defining Event:
|
Roll over
|
Injuries:
|
1 Minor, 1 None
|
Flight Conducted Under: Part 135: Air taxi & commuter - Scheduled
Analysis
The pilot was transporting personnel from a remote helipad that was constructed of a plastic, floating dock. She was unaware that the helicopter’s right skid had slid under a portion of the plastic dock. As she raised the collective to depart, she felt the helicopter roll to the right, and she attempted to correct the lateral rolling motion by lowering the collective. The helicopter continued to roll and came to rest on its right side. Subsequently, the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system.
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s inability to maintain lateral control during the takeoff, which resulted in dynamic rollover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to utilize an unsuitable landing area for flight operations.
Findings
Aircraft Personnel issues Personnel issues
Environmental issues
|
(general) - Not attained/maintained Aircraft control - Pilot
Decision making/judgment - Pilot
(general) - Ability to respond/compensate
|
Factual Information
History of Flight
Takeoff - Roll over (Defining event)
Takeoff - Collision during takeoff/land
|
Pilot Information
|
Certificate:
|
Airline transport; Flight instructor
|
Age:
|
24,Female
|
|
Airplane Rating(s):
|
None
|
Seat Occupied:
|
Left
|
|
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Restraint Used:
|
4-point
|
|
Instrument Rating(s):
|
Helicopter
|
Second Pilot Present:
|
No
|
|
Instructor Rating(s):
|
Helicopter; Instrument helicopter
|
Toxicology Performed:
|
|
|
Medical Certification:
|
Class 1 Without waivers/limitations
|
Last FAA Medical Exam:
|
August 4, 2021
|
|
Occupational Pilot:
|
Yes
|
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
|
July 25, 2021
|
|
Flight Time:
|
(Estimated) 1921 hours (Total, all aircraft), 25 hours (Total, this make and model), 1852 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 67 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 16 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
|
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
|
Aircraft Make:
|
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter
|
Registration:
|
N125KW
|
|
Model/Series:
|
369E
|
Aircraft Category:
|
Helicopter
|
|
Year of Manufacture:
|
1989
|
Amateur Built:
|
|
|
Airworthiness Certificate:
|
Normal
|
Serial Number:
|
0336E
|
|
Landing Gear Type:
|
High skid; Skid
|
Seats:
|
4
|
|
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
|
September 5, 2021 100 hour
|
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
|
3000 lbs
|
|
Time Since Last Inspection:
|
|
Engines:
|
1 Turbo shaft
|
|
Airframe Total Time:
|
|
Engine Manufacturer:
|
ROLLS-ROYCE
|
|
ELT:
|
Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
|
Engine Model/Series:
|
250-C20B
|
|
Registered Owner:
|
|
Rated Power:
|
420 Horsepower
|
|
Operator:
|
On file
|
Operating Certificate(s) Held:
|
Rotorcraft external load (133), Commuter air
carrier (135), On-demand
air taxi (135)
|
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
|
Conditions at Accident Site:
|
Visual (VMC)
|
Condition of Light:
|
Day
|
|
Observation Facility, Elevation:
|
PABI,1277 ft msl
|
Distance from Accident Site:
|
26 Nautical Miles
|
|
Observation Time:
|
17:53 Local
|
Direction from Accident Site:
|
270°
|
|
Lowest Cloud Condition:
|
Scattered / 2200 ft AGL
|
Visibility
|
10 miles
|
|
Lowest Ceiling:
|
Visibility (RVR):
|
|
|
Wind Speed/Gusts:
|
5 knots /
|
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
|
None / None
|
|
Wind Direction:
|
90°
|
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
|
N/A / N/A
|
|
Altimeter Setting:
|
29.96 inches Hg
|
Temperature/Dew Point:
|
9°C / 3°C
|
|
Precipitation and Obscuration:
|
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
|
|
|
Departure Point:
|
Delta Junction, AK
|
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
|
None
|
|
Destination:
|
Delta Junction, AK
|
Type of Clearance:
|
None
|
|
Departure Time:
|
Type of Airspace:
|
Class G
|
Wreckage and Impact Information
|
Crew Injuries:
|
1 None
|
Aircraft Damage:
|
Substantial
|
|
Passenger Injuries:
|
1 Minor
|
Aircraft Fire:
|
None
|
|
Ground Injuries:
|
|
Aircraft Explosion:
|
None
|
|
Total Injuries:
|
1 Minor, 1 None
|
Latitude, Longitude:
|
63.999752,-144.73459(est)
|
Administrative Information
|
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
|
Swenson, Eric
|
|
|
Additional Participating Persons:
|
Brad Sipperley; FAA; Fairbanks, AK
|
|
|
Original Publish Date:
|
April 20, 2022 Investigation Class:
|
4
|
|
Note:
|
The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
|
|
|
Investigation Docket:
|
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103817
|
|
READ MORE ROTORCRAFT PRO
WATCH ROTORCRAFT PRO YOUTUBE CHANNEL
You can also find us on
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rotorcraftpro/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rotorcraftpro/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/justhelicopters