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Location:
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Nashua, New Hampshire
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Accident Number:
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ERA22LA236
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Date & Time:
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May 23, 2022, 10:41 Local
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Registration:
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N666U
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Aircraft: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R44 II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional
Analysis
The private pilot was receiving a checkout in the helicopter from the flight instructor, and they were practicing pick-ups and touchdowns on the non-movement area of the airport. The flight instructor was demonstrating a pick-up to the pilot when the helicopter rolled left (due to a wind gust) and reached an angle where the instructor described that he was unable to recover, resulting in a dynamic rollover. The fuselage and main rotor were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation, nor did the flight instructor report any.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the takeoff, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.
Findings
Personnel issues - Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot
Aircraft - Lateral/bank control - Not attained/maintained
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Factual Information
History of Flight
Takeoff - Loss of control in flight (Defining event)
Takeoff - Dynamic rollover
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Pilot Information
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Certificate:
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Private
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Age:
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63,Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Single-engine land
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Seat Occupied:
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Right
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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None
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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None
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Toxicology Performed:
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|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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January 6, 2022
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Occupational Pilot:
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No
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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April 2, 2022
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Flight Time:
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259 hours (Total, all aircraft), 33 hours (Total, this make and model), 67 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
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Flight instructor Information
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Certificate:
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Commercial; Flight instructor
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Age:
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Male
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Airplane Rating(s):
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Seat Occupied:
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Left
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Other Aircraft Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Restraint Used:
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3-point
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Instrument Rating(s):
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Second Pilot Present:
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Yes
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Instructor Rating(s):
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Helicopter
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Toxicology Performed:
|
|
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Medical Certification:
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Class 2 With waivers/limitations
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Last FAA Medical Exam:
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|
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Occupational Pilot:
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Yes
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Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
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|
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Flight Time:
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Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
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Aircraft Make:
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ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY
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Registration:
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N666U
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Model/Series:
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R44 II
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Aircraft Category:
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Helicopter
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Year of Manufacture:
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2004
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Amateur Built:
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|
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Airworthiness Certificate:
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Normal
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Serial Number:
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10476
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Landing Gear Type:
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None; Emergency float; Skid
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Seats:
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4
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Date/Type of Last Inspection:
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March 22, 2022 Annual
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Certified Max Gross Wt.:
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2500 lbs
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Time Since Last Inspection:
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19 Hrs
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Engines:
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1 Reciprocating
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Airframe Total Time:
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1907 Hrs as of last inspection
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Engine Manufacturer:
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Lycoming
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ELT:
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C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
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Engine Model/Series:
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IO-540
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Registered Owner:
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Rated Power:
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245 Horsepower
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Operator:
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On file
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Operating Certificate(s) Held:
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None
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Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
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Conditions at Accident Site:
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Visual (VMC)
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Condition of Light:
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Day
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Observation Facility, Elevation:
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ASH,200 ft msl
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Distance from Accident Site:
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0 Nautical Miles
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Observation Time:
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14:56 Local
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Direction from Accident Site:
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77°
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Lowest Cloud Condition:
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Clear
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Visibility
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10 miles
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Lowest Ceiling:
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None
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Visibility (RVR):
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|
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Wind Speed/Gusts:
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11 knots /
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Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
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None / None
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Wind Direction:
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330°
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Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
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N/A / N/A
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Altimeter Setting:
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30.17 inches Hg
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Temperature/Dew Point:
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22°C / 2°C
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Precipitation and Obscuration:
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No Obscuration; No Precipitation
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Departure Point:
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Nashua, NH
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Type of Flight Plan Filed:
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None
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Destination:
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Nashua, NH
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Type of Clearance:
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None
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Departure Time:
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Type of Airspace:
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Class D
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Airport Information
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Airport:
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Boire Field Airport ASH
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Runway Surface Type:
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|
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Airport Elevation:
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200 ft msl
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Runway Surface Condition:
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Dry
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Runway Used:
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IFR Approach:
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None
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Runway Length/Width:
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VFR Approach/Landing:
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None
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Wreckage and Impact Information
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Crew Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Aircraft Damage:
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Substantial
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Passenger Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Fire:
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None
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Ground Injuries:
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N/A
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Aircraft Explosion:
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None
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Total Injuries:
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2 Minor
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Latitude, Longitude:
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42.782397,-71.520674(est)
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Administrative Information
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Investigator In Charge (IIC):
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Wentz, Peter
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Additional Participating Persons:
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Justin Gierka; FAA - FSDO; Portland, ME
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|
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Original Publish Date:
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February 23, 2023 Investigation Class:
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4
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Note:
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The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.
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|
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Investigation Docket:
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https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105122
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