# NTSB ERA16CA102: Tucker Mitchel C H 13, N9669, Zephyrhills, FL, January 17, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 16, 2016, 20:30 local (Jan 17, 2016, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Zephyrhills, FL - Coordinates: 28.230556, -82.161109 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.2306&lon=-82.1611&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA- TPA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92682 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92682/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92682 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16CA102 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while on ground standing with the engine running during high crosswind conditions which resulted in a static rollover and collision with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05619KN), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05619KN), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05619KN), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05619KN), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=05619KN), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental helicopter was returning from a local flight and landed near his hanger to drop off his passenger. After his passenger disembarked, the pilot was preparing to take off and reposition the helicopter to another spot, but before he added power for liftoff, a strong gust of wind struck the left side of the helicopter, thrusting the cyclic control out of his hand and hard over to the right. This caused the helicopter to lift up and roll onto its right side, causing substantial damage to the blades, engine mount, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot stated, it happened very quickly and there was no chance to recover. Post-accident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions which would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident was from 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental helicopter was returning from a local flight and landed near his hanger to drop off his passenger. After his passenger disembarked, the pilot was preparing to take off and reposition the helicopter to another spot, but before he added power for liftoff, a strong gust of wind struck the left side of the helicopter, thrusting the cyclic control out of his hand and hard over to the right. This caused the helicopter to lift up and roll onto its right side, causing substantial damage to the blades, engine mount, fuselage and tail boom. The pilot stated, it happened very quickly and there was no chance to recover. Post-accident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions which would have precluded normal operation. The wind at the time of the accident were from 240 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9669](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9669), registered now, S/N T-3, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TUCKER MITCHEL C H 13 (D) - Registry model: [Tucker Mitchel C H-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/tucker-mitchel-c-h-13) (registry code 05619KN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: T-3 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Great Cloud Design Incorporated - Registered owner: Great Cloud Design Incorporated - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 3, 2015, 258 hours before - Departed: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL - Destination: ZPH, Zephyrhills, FL - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: ZPH, Zephyrhills Muni - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 7, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,250 total, 500 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 13 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: ZPH, 1 nm away ## 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 20160116000949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160116000949A), Jan 16, 2016: Tucker Mitchel C H-13, Zephyrhills, FL, Substantial damage. On January 16, 2016 an experimental amateur built H-13 helicopter landed at the Zephyrhills, FL airport after a local pleasure flight. The aircraft landed in… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 25, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92682. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photographs of Damage (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 961 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photographs%20of%20Damage-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather (item 4, .PDF, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather-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.