ATL00FA026

The Local Air Traffic Controller had sequenced an S76 helicopter as number two for landing behind a PA-28, that had been cleared for a touch-and-go. The pilot of the helicopter acknowledged the clearance and stated that he had it in sight and was number two. The controller then cleared the PA-28 for a touch and go. According to witnesses the S76 helicopter passed the PA-28 on short final then made a low approach, slowing to a hover past the departure end of the runway. The local controller observed what happened and told the helicopter and the PA-28 to continue their approaches. Witnesses stated that the PA-28 pilot attempted to avoid the helicopter and was caught in the helicopters rotor wash.

History of flight

On February 15, 2000, at 1227 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N8447Y, encountered vortex turbulence, cart-wheeled and crashed while conducting a touch-and-go operation on runway 2 left (2L) at the Dekalb Peachtree Airport (PDK), Chamblee, Georgia. The aircraft was operated by American Air Flight Training, and flown by the student pilot under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local solo flight. The student pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight originated from the PDK Airport in Chamblee, Georgia, about 1115 the same day.

According to witnesses, N8447Y was passed by N5QZ, a Sikorsky S76 helicopter, while on short final to runway 2L. The helicopter then made a low approach over runway 2L, slowing to a hover over or just past the departure end of the runway. According to witnesses, shortly after becoming airborne following the touch-and-go, N8447Y rocked from side to side, then rolled left until the wingtip struck and ground, and the aircraft cart-wheeled and crashed. The PDK Airport has a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower that was open and in contact with both the helicopter and N8447Y at the time of the accident.

The pilot of N8447Y was operating in the local traffic pattern of PDK, conducting repeated landing and takeoff operations in a left-hand traffic pattern for runway 2L. There were numerous other aircraft in the 2L pattern, as well as arrivals and departures operating on both runway 2L and 2R.

According to FAA transcripts of tower communications, at 1221:45, Option 63, a Beech-jet called PDK tower and reported being on a left base for runway 2R. The local Controller cleared Option 63 to land on runway 2R, and advised the pilot of numerous aircraft in the pattern for runway 2L. The pilot of Option 63 acknowledged the landing clearance and the traffic information. The Local Controller reported the wind at that time as 230 degrees at 4 knots.

At 1222:04, the pilot of Sikorsky N5QZ called the tower, advising that he was 8.7 miles south-southwest of the airport for landing. The Local Controller asked N5QZ to "ident" and after observing the "ident-reply" on the tower radar display, instructed the pilot to join a 3 mile final for runway 2L. The pilot acknowledged. At 1222:51, The Local Controller cleared N8447Y for a touch and go landing on runway 2L, and advised the pilot that he was number 3 behind a Cessna. The pilot of N8447Y acknowledged. At 1223:24, the Local Controller asked the pilot of N5QZ, if he was intending to park in the northeast ramp area. The pilot replied that he was, and the Local Controller instructed him to continue for runway 2L and expect sequencing momentarily.

At 1224:28, the Local Controller transmitted, "N5QZ number two runway 2L follow cherokee on a one and a half mile left base, do you have that traffic." The pilot of N5QZ replied, "Quebec Zulu that's in sight number two." At 1225:17, the Local Controller cleared N8447Y for a touch and go on runway 2L, and advised the pilot of traffic to his right landing on the parallel runway. The pilot of N8447Y reported the traffic in sight. At 1225:24, the Local Controller transmitted, "Option sixty three contact ground point six off the runway no delay please good day." At 1225:39, the Local Controller cleared N5QZ for a low approach to runway 2L, and instructed the pilot to continue to the intersection of taxiways Juliet and Alpha after the low approach. The Local Controller also advised N5QZ's crew that a Beech Jet (Option 63) was turning off of runway 2R at the time. The pilot of N5QZ replied, "Quebec Zulu understand and ah we'll go behind him." At 1226:15, the ground controller instructed Option 63 to hold their position for landing helicopter traffic, and the crew responded, "okay we'll hold right here option sixty three."

At 1226:22, the Local Controller transmitted, "five Quebec zulu continue sir and november four seven yankee you can continue for runway two left cleared touch and go, the helicopter was supposed to follow you, you are cleared touch and go that traffic's low approach landing Juliet and alpha." The pilot of N8447Y responded, "four seven yankee ah touch and go." At 1227:15, the Local Controller transmitted "(unintelligible) all aircraft in the pattern go around fly east of the airport. At 1227:25, the Local Controller instructed N5QZ to proceed to the ramp, advising that there was an emergency in progress and cautioning the pilot that fire vehicles would be in the area. Airport rescue and firefighting crews were notified of the crash by the ground controller and responded to the scene immediately.

Personnel information

The pilot of N8447Y was a 36-year-old student pilot. The flight school's records indicated that the student pilot had accumulated 43 hours total flight time, 39 of those hours with an instructor. The student pilot had accumulated four (4) hours solo time including the accident flight with appropriate endorsements in his logbook and on his student pilot certificate. The pilot's first solo was on November 30, 1999. The pilots most recent third class medical/student pilots certificate was issued on June 3, 1999, with no waivers or limitations.

The first pilot of N5QZ, an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), with ratings in airplane single engine land and sea, airplane multi-engine land and sea, rotorcraft-helicopter. Additionally, the pilot was type rated in the A-109, DA-20, DC-3, L-1329 and the LR-Jet. The pilots most recent first class medical certificate was issued on September 24, 1999, with no waivers or limitations.

The second pilot of N5QZ, an ATP with ratings in airplanes multi-engine land, and had a type rating in the CE-500. Other certificates included commercial ratings in airplane single engine land, rotorcraft-helicopter and instrument helicopter. The pilots most recent first class medical certificate was issued on November 16, 1999, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses while exercising the privileges of his airman certificate.

Aircraft information

The Piper PA-28-161, was a four (4) seat, single engine airplane, powered by a Lycoming O-360-D3G, engine, and was registered to American Air Flight Training, Inc. On December 17, 1999, the airplane received a 100 hour inspection, with no major discrepancies noted. The logbooks revealed that the airplane had accumulated a total time of 10,453.2 hours, at the time of the accident.

The 1992, Sikorsky S-76B, N5QZ, was an 8 seat, twin engine helicopter, powered by two Pratt & Whitney 980 horsepower PT6 series turbo-shaft engines with a certified gross weight of 11,700 pounds. The helicopter was registered as a standard transport helicopter to Kuse Enterprises Inc. Atlanta, Georgia.

Meteorological information

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The reported weather at KPDK at 1253, was winds variable three knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 15 degrees Celsius, barometric pressure was 30.21 inches of mercury.

Wreckage and impact information

Examination of the accident site found that the airplane's left wingtip contacted the left side of runway 2L, about 450 feet short of the end of the runway. The wing tip scraped the asphalt for about 15 feet, then the nose of the airplane impacted the ground as evidenced by two distinctive propeller strikes approximately eight inches apart. The airplane continued to cart-wheel until striking the right wing which separated at impact. The airplane continued, separating the left wing and coming to rest inverted 189 feet from the initial impact point, on a 340 degree heading. A fire started in the engine area and was extinguished by airport rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) personnel with minimal fire damage.

The left wing was separated from the fusela