What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The operator (only occupant) of the aircraft was not a certified (licensed) helicopter pilot. He explained that as he hovered above the southern end of the parallel taxiway the aircraft made an uncontrolled right verticl turn of about 20 degrees. The operator had to apply "extreme" left pedal to maintain heading but the aircraft suddenly began spinning rapidly to the right. Unable to control the aircraft, the operator closed the throttle fully in an apparent attempt to control the helicopter; however, the helicopter fell on its left side causing substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE OPERATOR (ONLY OCCUPANT) OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT A CERTIFIED (LICENSED) HELICOPTER PILOT. HE EXPLAINED THAT AS HE HOVERED ABOVE THE SOUTHERN END OF THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNCONTROLLED RIGHT VERTICL TURN OF ABOUT 20 DEGREES. THE OPERATOR HAD TO APPLY "EXTREME" LEFT PEDAL TO MAINTAIN HEADING BUT THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY BEGAN SPINNING RAPIDLY TO THE RIGHT. UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT, THE OPERATOR CLOSED THE THROTTLE FULLY IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THE HELICOPTER; HOWEVER, THE HELICOPTER FELL ON ITS LEFT SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N2238U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.