# NTSB ERA18LA170: Bell OH 58A, N303HP, Raleigh, NC, June 19, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2018, 14:06 local (18:06 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.731945, -78.628608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7319&lon=-78.6286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97532 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA18LA170 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97532/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97532 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA170 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detach ground handling equipment from the helicopter before initiating the takeoff, which resulted in the subsequent dynamic rollover. ## 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: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1181579), [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: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell OH-58A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=1181579), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis In preparation for a local flight, the commercial pilot moved the helicopter from the hangar to the helipad on an electric transporter that was attached to the helicopter skids. During the pilot's preflight preparation, shortly after he had unhooked the left skid from the transporter, the passenger interrupted him to ask if the flight controls could be removed from the copilot's side. After removing the controls, the pilot continued with his preflight inspection; however, he forgot to unhook the right skid from the transporter. Subsequently, during the takeoff, the helicopter rolled right until the main rotor blades struck the ground. The pilot's failure to unhook the transporter from the right skid led to the subsequent dynamic rollover. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2018, about 1406 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A, N303HP, operated by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, was substantially damaged during takeoff at the Garner Road Heliport (3NC2), Raleigh, North Carolina. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local public use flight.According to the pilot, he moved the helicopter from the hangar to the helipad using an electric/hydraulic transporter attached to the helicopter skids. During his preflight preparation, as he unhooked the transporter clamp from the left skid, the passenger, seated in the left front co-pilot seat, inquired about removing the controls from the co-pilot's side of the helicopter. The pilot had not intended to remove them, though he decided to do so after the passenger's inquiry. After removing the controls, he continued with the preflight inspection; however, he reported that he forgot to unhook the transporter from the right skid. Subsequently during the takeoff, the helicopter rolled to the right until the main rotor blades struck the ground. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for rotorcraft-helicopter and instrument helicopter. He held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane-single engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate was issued March 26, 2018, at which time he reported 882 total hours of flight experience. He reported a total of 732 hours in make and model of the accident helicopter. The helicopter was manufactured in 1970 by Bell Helicopter. It was equipped with a Rolls Royce (Allison) T63-A-720, 317-shaft horsepower engine. The helicopter's airframe and engine had accrued 9,093 and 3,959 hours total time, respectively. A 100-hour inspection was completed on May 24, 2018, and the engine accrued 19.5 hours since that inspection. The engine had accumulated 2,184 hours since overhaul. The helicopter was examined by an FAA inspector and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, partially inverted. Examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor blades. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the operator's standard operating procedures indicated that single crewmember operations could be conducted with passengers aboard if the mission dictated such a crew and a first line supervisor authorized the single crew flight. Written procedures also required that "aircrews will assist each other . . . to assure a thorough pre-flight inspection…" and that "the Pilot and Co-Pilot will be aware and avoid all potential distractions and/or interruptions during their pre-flight activities." On the day of the accident, the helicopter wasweight-limited with a passenger on board and therefore the flight was authorized to operate with a single pilot rather than the standard two-pilot crew. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N303HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303HP-2018-11-28), registration cancelled 2018-11-28, S/N 70-15384 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL OH 58A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bell OH-58A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (registry code 1181579) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 70-15384 - Year built: 1970 - Airframe hours: 9094 - Engines: Allison T63-A-700 317 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: North Carolina State Highway Patrol - Registered owner: North Carolina State Highway Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 24, 2018, 19 hours before - Departed: 3NC2, Raleigh, NC - Destination: 3NC2, Raleigh, NC - Airport: 3NC2, Garner Road Heliport, runway H1, 100 × 50 ft, concrete - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 8, 2018; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,007 total, 732 in this make and model, 712 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: RDU, 12 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 20180619008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180619008199A), Jun 19, 2018: Bell OH-58A, Raliegh, NC, Destroyed. Raleigh, NC: N303HP, OH-58, crashed during attempted takeoff. Aircraft came to rest on the left side next to the helipad. POB: 2, injuries: minor, damage:… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97532. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467421&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467422&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Excerpts from Operator's Standard Operating Procedure (item 3, .PDF, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467423&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Operator%27s%20Standard%20Operating%20Procedure-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467424&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Investigation Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 4 photos, 469 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.