# NTSB DFW08CA010: Eurocopter EC 130, N997PT, Bay St Louis, MS, October 11, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2007, 06:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Bay St Louis, MS - Coordinates: 30.368333, -89.455001 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3683&lon=-89.4550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson, MS - NTSB case key (mKey): 66892 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA010 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66892/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA010 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with dynamic rollover as result of his inadequate preflight inspection. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, hover - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command - ground tie-down rope/strap - not removed, pilot in command - dynamic rollover - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, hover ## Analysis The commercial pilot was distracted by a short conversation with another pilot during an early morning preflight inspection of the helicopter. Following the preflight inspection of the turbine powered helicopter, the commercial pilot attempted to takeoff with the right side tie-down strap still securing the helicopter to the ground. Approximately 2-to-3- feet above ground level (agl), the pilot felt a tug as the slack was removed from the strap and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover. The main rotor blades impacted the ground and the helicopter began to spin to the left. The pilot lowered the collective and the helicopter landed hard before coming to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exit unassisted. An examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom sustained structural damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative The commercial pilot was distracted by a short conversation with another pilot during an early morning preflight inspection of the helicopter. Following the preflight inspection of the turbine powered helicopter, the commercial pilot attempted to takeoff with the right side tie-down strap still securing the helicopter to the ground. Approximately 2-to-3- feet above ground level (agl), the pilot felt a tug as the slack was removed from the strap and the helicopter entered a dynamic rollover. The main rotor blades impacted the ground and the helicopter began to spin to the left. The pilot lowered the collective and the helicopter landed hard before coming to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exit unassisted. An examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom sustained structural damage during the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N997PT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N997PT-2008-09-15), registration cancelled 2008-09-15, S/N 3809, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Eurocopter EC 130 - Registry model: [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4) (registry code 8680989) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-2B1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-2b1) (registry code 60056, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 3809 - Airframe hours: 2360 - Engines: Turbomeca Arriel 2B1 847 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Taylor Energy Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2007 - Departed: HSA, BAY ST LOUIS, MS - Destination: PTN, PATTERSON, LA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: HSA, Stennis Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 375 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F ## 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 20071011825329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071011825329A), Oct 11, 2007: Urocop EC130B4, Bay St Louis, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot failed to untie right side tie down and attempted to lift off. He encountered dynamic rollover and damaged his helicopter and an airplane which was… 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.