20010303003799A

(.19) On March 3, 2001, at 1430 EST a homebuilt rotorway exec 162F helicopter N929BL, was substantially damaged when it struck trees after lifting to a hover in an open field in Wallingford, Connecticut. The certificated flight instructor and student pilot/builder were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. In a written statement, the flight instructor stated: "I was preparing for a training flight with student in a rotorway helicopter. The plan was for me to depart students residence (Wallingford, CT) solo (left seat) and fly across the street to an open field. The student was to meet me there and move the ballast weight from the right front skid tube (fwd) to the tall cone (aft). I took off from students yard about 14:30 CST and landed in the field across the street, about 40 feetfrom the road facing the tree line. Student approached the left door and expressed his concerns about the skids on the dirt surface. I assured him that the surface was quite firm and safe. I slid across to the right seat and student got into the left seat and we buckled in. We had both forgotten about repositioning the ballast weight. I had the controls and I ran the engine up readying for a lift to hover. I did not use the pre take-off checklist, which would have reminded me about the ballast weight position. With 2 pilots onboard and the ballast in the forward position the helicopter was out of c.g. limits (nose heavy). When I lifted the helicopter to hover the nose pitched downa ND the helicopter accelerated forward. I applied full aft cyclic stick but the helicopter went between two trees and the main rotor blades struck the trees. The forward motion stopped the helicopter yewed left-then fell to rest on the left side. I climbed out of the right door and student followed me out." A FAA inspector performed an on-scene examination on March 3, 2001. According to the inspector the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system, both rotor blades, the tail boom, left side of the fuselage, and skids. Examination of the rotorway international exec 162F flight manual, revealed that item 4 on the start up/run up and take off checklist stated, "check ballast weight location." Further examination of the flight manual revealed that in thje weight and balance section, it stated: "solo flight is performed only from the left seat, and must have the ballast weight placed on the front passenger skid. Dual flight requires the ballast weight be placed on the rear mount tube under the tail boom." The flight instructor reported 3,725 total flight hours in helicopters: 8 hours in make and model of which 3 hours were logged as instructorin make and model. The flight instructor also reported there were no mechanical malfunctions. (-23) CFI departed from private residence and landed in the field across the street. Owner/student boarded and attempted take off. Both pilots failed to move ballast weight form rt. Skid to tail boom - lost control after lift off, hit trees. (.4) in preparation for an instructional flight, the flight instructor flew the helicopter from the student pilot/builder's yard to an open field across the street for the purpose of added take-off room with two people on board. Prior to this relocation, the forward ballast weight required for solo operations remained on the front right skid. The flight instructor and stud ent agreed that the student would move the ballast weight from the forward right skid to the tail boom before getting into the helicopter. When the student met the instructor across the street, he was concerned about the skids being in the dirt. The instructor reassured the student that the ground was solid. The instructor then slid from the left seat to the right seat and the student got into the helicopter and sat in the left seat. Both occupants forgot about repositioning the ballast weight. When the instructor lifted the helicopter to hover, the nose pitched down and the helicopter accelerated forward into trees. The instructor stated that he did not use the pre-take off checklist, which would have reminded him about repositioning the ballast weight. Examination of the flight manual revealed that in the weight and balance section, it stated: "solo flight is performed only from the left seat, and must have the ballast weight placed on the front passenger skid. Dual flight requires the ballast weight be placed on the rear mount tube under the tail boom." There were no mechanical deficiencies.