What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 2, 2016, at 0900 PDT, accident aircraft N568TB, departed w.j. fox field (wjf), lancaster, CA, heading for Agua Dulce airpark (L70), at approximately 10 miles per hour, at 300 feet above ground level, with a heading of 270 degrees.
While following along the ridge, pilot 'clicked' microphone five (5) times for ATIS. Pilot needed to adjust the volume control on his headset. Pilot removed his left hand from the collective control, and used it to hold the cyclic control, so he could use his right hand to adjust the volume on his headset.
Pilot forgot to increase the friction adjustment of the collective control prior to removing his left hand from the collective control.
At this point, the collective control dropped, which decreased main rotor blade pitch, causing the engine to over speed. Immediately, the aircraft started to spin to the right. Pilot grabbed the collective control with his left hand, reduced throttle, then increased the collective control pitch.
The aircraft experienced settling with power, and the pilot could not recover control. The aircraft performed eight to ten spins, landing at an angle on the skids, and rolled on to its right side.
Pilot released his seat belt, removed himself from the aircraft, and called for help on his cellular phone.
Accident site location: 34.567467, -118.30844, los angeles county, CA. Four miles north of auga Dulce airpark.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 2, 2016, AT 0900 PDT, ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT N568TB, DEPARTED W.J. FOX FIELD (WJF), LANCASTER, CA, HEADING FOR AGUA DULCE AIRPARK (L70), AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR, AT 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, WITH A HEADING OF 270 DEGREES.
WHILE FOLLOWING ALONG THE RIDGE, PILOT 'CLICKED' MICROPHONE FIVE (5) TIMES FOR ATIS. PILOT NEEDED TO ADJUST THE VOLUME CONTROL ON HIS HEADSET. PILOT REMOVED HIS LEFT HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL, AND USED IT TO HOLD THE CYCLIC CONTROL, SO HE COULD USE HIS RIGHT HAND TO ADJUST THE VOLUME ON HIS HEADSET.
PILOT FORGOT TO INCREASE THE FRICTION ADJUSTMENT OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL PRIOR TO REMOVING HIS LEFT HAND FROM THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL.
AT THIS POINT, THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL DROPPED, WHICH DECREASED MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER SPEED. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. PILOT GRABBED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL WITH HIS LEFT HAND, REDUCED THROTTLE, THEN INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL PITCH.
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SETTLING WITH POWER, AND THE PILOT COULD NOT RECOVER CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMED EIGHT TO TEN SPINS, LANDING AT AN ANGLE ON THE SKIDS, AND ROLLED ON TO ITS RIGHT SIDE.
PILOT RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT, REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND CALLED FOR HELP ON HIS CELLULAR PHONE.
ACCIDENT SITE LOCATION: 34.567467, -118.30844, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA. FOUR MILES NORTH OF AUGA DULCE AIRPARK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.