# Accident 20211209021269A: James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, Mckinney, TX, December 9, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 9, 2021, 17:15 local time
- Place: Mckinney, TX
- Airport: Mckinney National
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.1774° N, 96.5910° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1774&lon=-96.5910&mi=10
- Aircraft: N666JS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N666JS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400 (registry code 05633NT, https://openairdocs.org/model/james-dereck-shelby-safari-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360 series (registry code 41881, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JAMES DERECK SHELBY SAFARI 400
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 16,568 total, 10 in this make and model, 132 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA068) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211209021269A

## Narrative

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

ON 9 DECEMBER 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1715 LOCAL,^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PREPARED TO FLY A SAFARI 400 HELICOPTER (N666JS) AT MCKINNEY NATIONAL AIRPORT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONDUCTED A PREFLIGHT EXTERIOR CHECK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER?S CHECKLIST.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ USED THE MANUFACTURER?S CHECKLIST TO COMPLETE THE AIRCRAFT STARTING PROCEDURES BUT MISSED THE STEP WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DISENGAGE THE CYCLIC CONTROL LOCK FOR THE SECOND TIME.  ONCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS READY FOR FLIGHT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ APPLIED COLLECTIVE POWER TO REACH A 2-3 FOOT HOVER HEIGHT.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT AND ROLL LEFT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH CYCLIC INPUT BUT THE CYCLIC WAS UNMOVABLE.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT USING A SHIFT OF HIS BODY WEIGHT WHILE LANDING BUT IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THE LEFT ROLL AND SLIDE TO THE LEFT, IMPACTED THE GROUND AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE WHILE ROTATING ABOUT 90 DEGREES FROM TAKEOFF HEADING.  THE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND RUPTURED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CAUSING THE LEAKING FUEL TO IGNITE A POST-CRASH FIRE.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES WHILE EXITING THE HELICOPTER.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE POST-CRASH FIRE.

## 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 CEN22LA068](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA068), Dec 9, 2021: CHR International Safari 400 (N666JS), McKinney, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot did not remove the cyclic control lock during preflight, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial hover.

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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