# NTSB ERA21LA043: Aerospatiale AS355, N712CA, Hammonton, NJ, November 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2020, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Hammonton, NJ - Coordinates: 39.667286, -74.757861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6673&lon=-74.7579&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff with a perceived mechanical deficiency. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=8680825), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aerospatiale AS 355F2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=8680825), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was departing from a dolly connected to a Kubota. During the initial collective input, he believed he had a stuck tail rotor pedal but continued the takeoff attempt because he “wasn’t afraid of a stuck pedal.” As the helicopter started to slide left off the dolly, he increased collective, the helicopter spun to the left and impacted the Kubota, resulting in substantial damage to the tail rotor and tail boom. A post-accident examination was unable to determine a definitive mechanical, hydraulic or electrical malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N712CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N712CA), registered now, S/N 5362, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE AS355 (F2) - Registry model: [Aerospatiale AS 355F2](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-as-355f2) (registry code 8680825) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce 250-C20F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-250-c20f) (registry code 54180, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 5362 - Year built: 1987 - Airframe hours: 4353.5 - Engines: Rolls-Royce 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft; Rolls-Royce 250-C20F 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Catalyst Aviation LLC - Registered owner: Catalyst Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 12, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: N81, Hammonton Muni - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 9,700 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: VAY, 16 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 20201114019419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201114019419A), Nov 14, 2020: Aerospatiale AS 355F2, Hammonton, NJ, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he performed pre-takeoff flight control checks by memory, and all responses were normal. As the helicopter was lifting off to a hover, the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102298. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12404993&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Report%20N712CA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12405011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR-%20Airbus%20and%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12404786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12404148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.