# NTSB ERA17LA256: D & K Baby Belle, N211CJ, Spartanburg, SC, July 19, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2017, 20:30 local (Jul 19, 2017, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Spartanburg, SC - Coordinates: 34.915832, -81.95639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9158&lon=-81.9564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95654/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95654 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during the approach to landing. ## 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: [D & K BABY BELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062052/cases.md?model=056311V), [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: [D & K BABY BELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056311V), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [D & K BABY BELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=056311V), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [D & K BABY BELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056311V), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [D & K BABY BELLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056311V), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot of the experimental, amateur-built helicopter reported that he returned to the airfield after a local flight and was preparing to land. While flying about 4 ft above ground level at an indicated airspeed between 16 and 24 mph, he felt a shudder, and the helicopter yawed to the right. He straightened the helicopter with antitorque pedal inputs and did not recall hearing any engine noise, although the doors were removed. The next thing that he recalled was lying on the ground, with the helicopter leaking fuel. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the helicopter's main rotor blades were bent and the tailboom was severed. Postaccident examination of the helicopter, which included an engine run, did not reveal any evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the pilot reported 46 total hours of helicopter flight experience, all in the make and model of the accident helicopter, he did not possess a rotorcraft rating at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2017, at 2030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Baby Belle helicopter, N211CJ, was substantially damaged during a hard landing near Spartanburg, South Carolina. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to a private company and was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 as a local, personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated at Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA), Spartanburg, South Carolina at 2000.According to the pilot, he was returning from a local flight around the airfield and was preparing to land. While flying about 4 ft above ground level at an indicated airspeed between 16 to 24 mph, he felt a shudder and the helicopter yawed to the right. He added left antitorque pedal input and overcorrected, then adjusted with right antitorque pedal input, which confirmed he had tail rotor authority. He reported that when the helicopter straightened out, he did not recall hearing any engine noise, although he had the doors off. The next thing he recalled was that he was on the ground and the helicopter was leaking fuel. He also reported he did not hear any horns or audible annunciations. The pilot recovered the wreckage to a storage facility and reported the event to the National Transportation Safety Board on July 24. Initial examination of the wreckage revealed that the airframe sustained substantial damaged during the accident. The main rotor blades were bent and delaminated and the tailboom was severed. Subsequent examination of the wreckage revealed control continuity from the cyclic and collective controls in the cockpit to the main rotor area. All fractures in the collective and cyclic control linkages were consistent with overload. Continuity was also established from the antitorque pedals to the tail cone. The tail rotor drive shaft was severed in multiple places. All fractures on the tail rotor drive shaft exhibited overload signatures and the bearings moved freely. The 90º gearbox rotated freely without binding. An initial examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft would not rotate. Further examination revealed oil in two of the cylinders resulting in a hydraulic lock condition. After the oil was drained, the engine could be turned freely. A test run of the engine was subsequently performed. The engine started normally using the cockpit controls and ran without evidence of a malfunction or anomaly. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot did not possess a rotorcraft-helicopter rating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported 46 hours of rotorcraft flight experience, all in the make and model of the accident helicopter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211CJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211CJ-2020-08-14), registration cancelled 2020-08-14, S/N DK1-1, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: D & K AVIATION BABY BELLE (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [D & K BABY BELLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/d-k-baby-belle) (registry code 056311V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c2c) (registry code 42287, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: DK1-1 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 325 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2C 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 29, 2016, 45 hours before - Departed: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Destination: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Airport: SPA, Spartanburg Downtown Memorial - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 760 total, 46 in this make and model, 760 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: SPA ## 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 20170718009109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170718009109A), Jul 18, 2017: D & K Aviation BABY BELLE, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Student helicopter pilot taxiing from grassy area adjacent to rwy 23 to grassy area adjacent to rwy 05. Pilot had a loss of directional control which was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 30, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95654. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Excerpts - Aircraft Logbook (item 3, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20-%20Aircraft%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Excerpts - Engine Logbook (item 4, .PDF, 831 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20-%20Engine%20Logbook-Master.PDF - Annual Inspection Records (item 5, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annual%20Inspection%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 8 photos, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40468711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.