# Accident 20080529834199A: Skrsky S76A, Grand Rapids, MI, May 29, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2008, 11:00 local time
- Place: Grand Rapids, MI
- Airport: Butterworth Hospital
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BTEA
- Location: 42.8808° N, 85.5228° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8808&lon=-85.5228&mi=10
- Aircraft: N176SH, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N176SH-2010-07-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-76A (registry code 8143006, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-76a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C30 series (registry code 03015, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c30-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S76A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C30
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI08FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080529834199A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRMAN WAS RECEIVING HIS SCHEDULED PART 135 CHECKRIDE FROM AN FAA INSPECTOR.  A REVIEW OF THE VIDEOTAPE OF THE ACCIDENT AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATE THAT AFTER TAKEOFF FROM THE ROOF OF THE HOSPITAL, THE AIRCRAFT BACKED UP AND STRUCK A TV CAMERA ON AN ADJACCENT ROOF.  BOTH PILOTS WERE AWARE THAT THERE WAS A BUILDING BEHIND THEM SO IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THEY ALLOWED THE HELICOPTER TO BACK UP DURING THE LIFT OFF.  THE PROCEDURE USED, BACKING UP, DURING DEPARTURE IS AN ACCEPTED MANUVER IF OBSTACLES ARE NOT BEHIND THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI08FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08FA141), May 29, 2008: Sikorsky S-76A (N176SH), Grand Rapids, MI, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain tail rotor obstacle clearance from a tower during takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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