- Date
- January 6, 2010, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Grantsville, MD
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N3275MSchweizer 269C-1
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report June 17, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100106048059A
- Case key
- 75236
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of aircraft control after encountering turbulence over a mountain range. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to obtain an Airmet for turbulence along the route of flight prior to departure and while enroute.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While en route to the destination airport, the pilot made a stop to fuel the helicopter and check the weather. According to the pilot, no precipitation was predicted for his route of flight, the winds were expected from the northwest at 15 knots, and a cloud ceiling of 2,500 feet broken was forecasted. He stated that no specific windshear or turbulence was forecasted. The pilot continued the flight and noted that the wind became stronger over the mountains. He decided he would land the helicopter after he passed over the second ridge; however, as he continued, "strong windshear" lifted the helicopter and then "dropped it to the ground." The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. He also reported approximately 600 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in make and model of the accident helicopter. Examination of recorded weather information revealed AIRMET TANGO for turbulence was in effect for the pilot's route of flight.
Factual narrative
While enroute to the destination airport, the pilot made a stop to fuel the helicopter and check the weather. According to the pilot, no precipitation was predicted for his route of flight, the winds were expected from the northwest at 15 knots, and a cloud ceiling of 2,500 feet broken was forecast. He stated that no specific windshear or turbulence was forecast. The pilot continued the flight and noted that the wind became stronger over the mountains. He decided he would land the helicopter after he passed over the second ridge; however, as he continued, "strong windshear" lifted the helicopter and then "dropped it to the ground." The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical anomalies with the helicopter. He also reported approximately 600 hours of total flight experience, all of which were in make and model of the accident helicopter. Examination of recorded weather information revealed AIRMET TANGO for turbulence was in effect for the pilot's route of flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3275M
- Reported as
- Schweizer 269C-1
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0159
- Airframe hours
- 7,193
- Engine
- Lycoming HO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Aerial Resources LLC
- Registered owner
- Aerial Resources LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 6, 2010
- Departed
- OMH · Orange, VA
- Destination
- FWQ · Monogahela, PA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 18, 2009
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 614 total · 614 in this make and model · 574 as pilot in command · 204 in the last 90 days · 55 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night
- Wind
- 270° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 18 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- 2G4, 10 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.