# NTSB CEN18LA314: Airbus EC 130 T2, N130TG, Mullen, NE, August 3, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 2018, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Mullen, NE - Coordinates: 41.86111, -101.289443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8611&lon=-101.2894&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Safran Helicopter, Airbus Helicopters, BEA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97995 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA314 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97995/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97995 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA314 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate and incorrect antitorque pedal application during a tight, decelerating turn downwind, which resulted in a loss of yaw control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: prop/rotor parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1145302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he was approaching a golf course to survey a potential landing area when, during a left turn, the helicopter experienced a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. He stated that he added right pedal and eventually full right pedal to counter the rotation without success. The helicopter impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the main rotor and fuselage. Parametric data recovered from an onboard recorder showed that the left turn tightened in radius and that both the groundspeed and airspeed decreased during the turn. The left yaw rate increased rapidly as the helicopter entered the downwind portion of the turn. The cockpit image recorder captured the pilot applying a slight right pedal input during the onset of the left yaw, followed by his improper left pedal input that remained until ground impact. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. The left yaw would likely have been arrested had the pilot applied adequate and correct antitorque pedal when the yaw first started. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 2018, about 1530 mountain daylight time, an Airbus EC 130 T2 helicopter, N130TG, lost control while maneuvering near the Dismal River Golf Club, southwest of Mullen, Nebraska. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The personal flight departed Alliance, Nebraska, about 1430, and was en route to Mullen, Nebraska. According to the pilot, he was approaching the golf course with the intention of surveying a possible landing site. The pilot reported the weather was clear and breezy with 15 to 20 knots of wind from the southeast. The pilot stated that during the left turn, with an airspeed between 40 and 60 knots, he encountered a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The pilot stated that he initially added right pedal during the first ½ of the turn and increased it to full right pedal for the remainder of the rotation. The pilot stated that he accepted responsibility for putting the helicopter into that flight situation and in the future, he needed to perform higher, faster, and wider turns. According the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, the main rotor and fuselage were substantially damaged during the impact. An examination of the helicopter and its systems revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The helicopter was equipped with an Appareo Vision 1000 image, audio, and data recorder. The recorder was not damaged and was sent to the National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorders Division in Washington, DC, for examination and data recovery. Parametric data from the accident flight was extracted and is available in the public docket for this accident. The details surrounding the data recovered are contained in the specialist's factual report in the public docket for this investigation. The Appareo Vision 1000 provided a field of view over the pilot's shoulder and forward to the instrument panel, including a partial view outside the helicopter windshield. The flight controls, except for the collective control, were also visible. Only the video events associated with the accident flight were viewed. The helicopter entered a right turn around a group of buildings. A flagpole visible in the video indicated that the winds were out of the south; the flag was mostly unfurled, and the flag was fully visible. After one right turn, the helicopter started a left turn around the same group of buildings. As the turn begins to tighten in radius the helicopter starts to descend. The ground speed showed a decreasing trend with an indicated airspeed of 30 knots. The heading changed to north, the ground speed decreased, and the airspeed indicator displayed 0 knots. As the helicopterturned to a downwind condition, a left yaw rate rapidly increased and was not arrested, resulting in a loss of yaw control. At the moment of control loss, the nose was down 18° at which time the pilot made an aft stick input and slight right pedal input, about 1 inch forward of the left pedal. As the yaw continued to develop, the pilot made a left pedal input; this input remained until ground impact. The helicopter rotated 1.25 times from the time of loss of control until ground impact. According to the FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook – Unanticipated yaw is the occurrence of an uncommanded yaw rate that does not subside of its own accord and, which, if not corrected, can result in the loss of helicopter control. In February 2005, Eurocopter released Service Letter No. 1673-67-04 "Reminder concerning the YAW axis control for all helicopters in some flight conditions" and specifically addressed the operational differences between the Fenestron and the conventional tail rotor. In July 2019, Airbus Helicopters released Safety Information Notice No. 3297-S-00 "Unanticipated left yaw (main rotor rotating clockwise), commonly referred to as LTE" and specifically addressed the characteristics of the unanticipated yaw, and how pilots can respond to avoid or reduce the effect of the unanticipated yaw. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N130TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N130TG-2021-03-06), registration cancelled 2021-03-06, S/N 8320, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS EC 130 T2 - Registry model: [Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-helicopters-ec-130-t2) (registry code 1145302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Safran ARRIEL-2D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/safran-arriel-2d) (registry code 59997, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 8320 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: TurboMeca Arriel 2D turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KAIA, Aliance, NE - Destination: Mullen, NE - Equipment: Stall warning system, Video recording device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 212.5 total, 193.8 in this make and model, 80.1 as pilot in command, 112.9 in the last 90 days, 44.5 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 26.89 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180803009829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180803009829A), Aug 3, 2018: Airbus Helicopters EC 130 T2, Mullen, NE, Substantial damage. On August 3, 2018 at approximately 1515 local time N130TG, an Airbus EC-130-T2 helicopter, departed controlled flight at approximately 200-300 feet AGL while… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97995. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475213&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475214&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475215&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Attachment 1 to Onboard Image, Audio and Data Recorder Factual Report (item 4, .CSV, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475216&FileExtension=.csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Onboard%20Image,%20Audio%20and%20Data%20Recorder%20Factual%20Report-Master.csv - Onboard Image, Audio and Data Recorder Factual Report (item 5, .PDF, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Onboard%20Image,%20Audio%20and%20Data%20Recorder%20Factual%20Report-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.