What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 2, 2017, at 0720 eastern daylight time, a Sikorsky S-97, N971SK, experienced a flight control
Anomaly while lifting to a hover resulting in excessive roll oscillations leading to intermeshing of the
Counter-rotating rotor system resulting in a hard landing. The two airline transport pilots were not
Injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage to the rotor system. The helicopter was
Registered to Sikorsky aircraft company in the experimental category, and was operated under the
Provisions of 14 code of federal regulations, part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the
Flight, and a company flight plan was active. The flight originated at the william p Gwinn Airport, Jupiter,
Florida.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 2, 2017, AT 0720 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A SIKORSKY S-97, N971SK, EXPERIENCED A FLIGHT CONTROL
ANOMALY WHILE LIFTING TO A HOVER RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE ROLL OSCILLATIONS LEADING TO INTERMESHING OF THE
COUNTER-ROTATING ROTOR SYSTEM RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING. THE TWO AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOTS WERE NOT
INJURED, AND THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE HELICOPTER WAS
REGISTERED TO SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT COMPANY IN THE EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY, AND WAS OPERATED UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE
FLIGHT, AND A COMPANY FLIGHT PLAN WAS ACTIVE. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE WILLIAM P GWINN AIRPORT, JUPITER,
FLORIDA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.