What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Description:
Helicopter was being operated off a metal barge in Neets Bay, Alaska to support remote helipad construction and or repair. As the pilot started the helicopter and engaged the clutch, the helicopter began a rapid right yaw. The pilot applied left pedal while simultaneously closing the throttle. The helicopter then rapidly yawed left and the tail contacted the barge deck crane resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tail boom.
privacy data omitted
The deck of the barge was wet which made it very slick. When the torque spiked with rotor engagement, the pilot over corrected the right yaw which resulted in a left yaw and tail rotor contact with the crane.
Recommendations:
The company investigated the accident, and determined that several changes to their helicopter/boat operations would be implemented. First change is that no aircraft starting will take place on metal decks without a non slip coating being installed. Secondly the company will develop a strategy to insure crane placement on the deck will be more obscure.
Comments:
Two FAA inspectors interviewed the director of operations and pilot on the barge where the accident took place. Their recommendation is that the corrective actions being taken by the company will greatly reduce the likelihood of an accident like this occurring in the future.
Corrective actions:
Airman counseling which took place in person when the two investigating inspectors interviewed the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
DESCRIPTION:
HELICOPTER WAS BEING OPERATED OFF A METAL BARGE IN NEETS BAY, ALASKA TO SUPPORT REMOTE HELIPAD CONSTRUCTION AND OR REPAIR. AS THE PILOT STARTED THE HELICOPTER AND ENGAGED THE CLUTCH, THE HELICOPTER BEGAN A RAPID RIGHT YAW. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT PEDAL WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CLOSING THE THROTTLE. THE HELICOPTER THEN RAPIDLY YAWED LEFT AND THE TAIL CONTACTED THE BARGE DECK CRANE RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR AND TAIL BOOM.
^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^
THE DECK OF THE BARGE WAS WET WHICH MADE IT VERY SLICK. WHEN THE TORQUE SPIKED WITH ROTOR ENGAGEMENT, THE PILOT OVER CORRECTED THE RIGHT YAW WHICH RESULTED IN A LEFT YAW AND TAIL ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE CRANE.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
THE COMPANY INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT, AND DETERMINED THAT SEVERAL CHANGES TO THEIR HELICOPTER/BOAT OPERATIONS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. FIRST CHANGE IS THAT NO AIRCRAFT STARTING WILL TAKE PLACE ON METAL DECKS WITHOUT A NON SLIP COATING BEING INSTALLED. SECONDLY THE COMPANY WILL DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO INSURE CRANE PLACEMENT ON THE DECK WILL BE MORE OBSCURE.
COMMENTS:
TWO FAA INSPECTORS INTERVIEWED THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PILOT ON THE BARGE WHERE THE ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN BY THE COMPANY WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN ACCIDENT LIKE THIS OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS:
AIRMAN COUNSELING WHICH TOOK PLACE IN PERSON WHEN THE TWO INVESTIGATING INSPECTORS INTERVIEWED THE PILOT.
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 N779DZ · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.