# Accident 20130829017319A: Brantly B-2B, Rothbury, MI, August 29, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 29, 2013, 16:45 local time
- Place: Rothbury, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5036° N, 86.3502° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5036&lon=-86.3502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2253U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2253U-2019-11-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Brantly B-2B (registry code 1440506, https://openairdocs.org/model/brantly-b-2b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRANTLY B-2B
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,055 total, 30 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA546) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130829017319A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 29, 2013, APPROXIMATELY 16:45 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A BRANTLY B-2B HELICOPTER, N2253U, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE ABORTING A FORWARD TAKEOFF RUN AT A PRIVATE OPEN FIELD IN ROTHBURY, MICHIGAN.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^PRIVATE ROTORCRAFT PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.   THERE WAS ONE WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.

THE HELICOPTER INITIATED THE TAKEOFF FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, HOVERED DOWNWIND TO THE EAST END OF THE FIELD BEFORE COMMENCING THE TAKEOFF TO THE WEST.    THE PILOT STATED HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF WHEN HE REALIZED HE WOULD NOT CLEAR THE TREE LINE BY GIVING THE HELICOPTER FULL LEFT RUDDER.   DURING THIS LEFT TURN, THE PILOT STATED A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT HIM AND FORCED HIM TO THE GROUND.   THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD AT A LEVEL ATTITUDE ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. THE PILOT STATED THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HIM, ROLLING THE HELICOPTER.   THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST LYING ON ITS LEFT SIDE.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT; THIS WAS A PERSONAL FLIGHT, THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 87 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND HE HAD 20 GALLONS OF 100LL FUEL ON BOARD.   AT 1655, 24 MILES SOUTH, THE KMKG AUTOMATED SURFACE OBSERVING SYSTEM REPORTED THE WIND FROM 270 DEGREES AT 7 MPG, VISIBILITY 10 MILES, FEW CLOUDS AT 16,000, SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 22,000 FEET, TEMPERATURE 83 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, DEW POINT 66, AND AN ALTIMETER SETTING OF 29.36 INCHES OF MERCURY.

THE OPEN FIELD WAS APPROXIMATELY 750 FEET IN LENGTH BY 150 FEET WIDE.  THE LENGTH RAN EAST TO WEST.  THE FIELD WAS SURROUNDED BY PINES TREES APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 40 FEET TALL WITH SOME LARGER GROWTH ON THE WEST END.

## 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 CEN13LA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA546), Aug 29, 2013: Brantly B-2B (N2253U), Rothbury, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while turning to avoid trees during an aborted takeoff in gusting wind conditions.

## Other reports on N2253U (2)

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

- [Incident 19791101056189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791101056189I), Nov 1, 1979: Hynes B2 (N2253U), Batavia, NY, Substantial damage. Student crashed helicopter during go-around by failing to friction collective in full down position.
- [Accident 19730806024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730806024199A), Aug 6, 1973: Hynes B2 (N2253U), Gibson City, IL, Destroyed. Search for escaped prisoners in hedge rows. Pilot-settled with pwr into tall corn.

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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