20140811015319A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N · Idaho Falls, ID · August 11, 2014

Date: August 11, 2014 · 20:00 local
Place: Idaho Falls, ID
Airport: Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N18GH
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR14LA341
Reported as: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N
Reported engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20R
People aboard: 3
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N18GHRegistered now · Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500NS/N LN014 Airframe modelMcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 500N Engine modelRolls-Royce 250-C20RTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot reported that during takeoff from a private residence, the helicopter was about 40 to 50 feet above ground level (AGL) when he lost tail rotor control. The helicopter banked to the left an immediately began to rotate. The pilot stated that despite his control inputs, he lost control of the helicopter and it impacted the ground. The aircraft came to rest on its right side. The main rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom were substantially damaged.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE RESIDENCE, THE HELICOPTER WAS ABOUT 40 TO 50 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN HE LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. THE HELICOPTER BANKED TO THE LEFT AN IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO ROTATE. THE PILOT STATED THAT DESPITE HIS CONTROL INPUTS, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, FUSELAGE, AND TAILBOOM WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR14LA341Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIdaho Falls, IDThe pilot’s loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.Aug 12, 2014 · Substantial damage