# NTSB CEN22LA068: CHR International Safari 400, N666JS, McKinney, TX, December 9, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 9, 2021, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX · on ramp - Coordinates: 33.177391, -96.591032 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1774&lon=-96.5910&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 104380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104380/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104380 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot did not remove the cyclic control lock during preflight, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial hover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05633NT), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md?model=05633NT), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05633NT), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05633NT), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633NT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he drove from his home to the airport not expecting to fly the helicopter due to high winds, however, after arrival at the hangar the winds were lighter than the forecast winds, so he conducted a preflight for a local flight. As the pilot raised the collective for takeoff and the helicopter climbed into an initial hover, the helicopter rolled to the left. The pilot tried to counter the roll but was unable because the cyclic control lock was still in place. The helicopter continued to roll left and impacted the ramp and a post impact fire ensued. The pilot successfully egressed the helicopter but suffered serious burn injuries. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the main rotor system and the cabin. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N666JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N666JS), registered now, S/N CH406 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHR International Safari 400 - Registry model: [James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-dereck-shelby-safari-400) (registry code 05633NT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-series) (registry code 41881, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: CH406 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 75 - Engines: Lycoming YIO-360-EXP 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 2021, 5 hours before - Departed: TKI, McKinney, TX - Destination: TKI, McKinney, TX - Airport: TKI, Mckinney Ntl - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 16,568 total, 10 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.77 inHg - Observed at: KTKI, 1 nm away - METAR: KTKI 092253Z 20007KT 10SM CLR 24/11 A2977 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02440106 ## 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 20211209021269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211209021269A), Dec 9, 2021: James Dereck Shelby SAFARI 400, Mckinney, TX, Destroyed. On 9 December 2021 at approximately 1715 local,[privacy data omitted] prepared to fly a safari 400 helicopter (N666JS) at Mckinney National Airport. [privacy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104380. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187402&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos of accident helicopter (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 427 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13190435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.