# Accident 20090809049149A: Brantly B-2B, Martinsville, IN, August 9, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2009, 12:03 local time
- Place: Martinsville, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4536° N, 86.2800° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4536&lon=-86.2800&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9023Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9023Z-2018-06-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Brantly B-2B (registry code 1440506, https://openairdocs.org/model/brantly-b-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (registry code 41594, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRANTLY B-2B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 120 total, 70 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA511](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA511) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090809049149A

## Narrative

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

IN PREPARATION FOR A SCHEDULED ROTORCRAFT RATING CHECK RIDE, THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING AUTOROTATION MANEUVERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO, AND NORTH OF, A BEAN FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS INITIATING THE AUTOROTATION MANEUVER ABOUT 500 FEET AGL IN A DIRECTION TOWARDS THE BEAN FIELD AND OVER AN ELEVATED RAILROAD TRACK. DUE TO A SOUTHERLY HEADWIND BETWEEN THE BEAN FIELD AND HIS POSITION, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRETCH THE AUTOROTATION TO CLEAR THE RAILROAD TRACK, HE ALLOWED THE ROTOR SPEED TO DECAY. DURING THE RECOVERY FROM THE AUTOROTATION MANEUVER, THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED THE BEAN STALKS.  WHILE INCREASING THE ANGLE OF ATTACK FOR THE RECOVERY, AND WITH THE RIGHT SKID IN CONTACT WITH THE BEAN STALKS, THE HELICOPTER DYNAMICALLY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT.  THE ROTOR BLADES THEN CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91 DEGREES (F) WITH HIGH HUMIDITY. SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER RESULTED AS EVIDENCED BY THE MAIN AND TAIL ROTOR BLADES SEPARATING AND THE BUCKLING OF THE FUSELAGE. NO FIRE RESULTED AND THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PILOT. NO VIOLATION OF REGULATIONS OCCURRED.

## 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 CEN09CA511](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA511), Aug 9, 2009: Brantly B-2B (N9023Z), Martinsville, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper recovery during the autorotation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed remedial action to abort the practice autorotation.

## Other reports on N9023Z (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20140525008899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140525008899A), May 25, 2014: Brantly B-2B (N9023Z), Hart Miller Isl, MD, Substantial damage. After a thorough preflight, [privacy data omitted] and his passenger [privacy data omitted] departed martin state airport (kmtn). [privacy data omitted] Is not…
- [Incident 20040623035689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040623035689I), Jun 23, 2004: Hynes B2B (N9023Z), Frankenmuth, MI, Minor damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] because he was taxiing 4 feet off the ground when he lost control in mild wind conditions.

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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