# NTSB FTW94LA053: Brantly Helicopter B-2, N2111U, Giddings, TX, December 24, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 1993, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Giddings, TX - Coordinates: 30.179992, -96.920516 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1800&lon=-96.9205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA053 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MAIN ROTOR RPM. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND DELAYED APPLICATION OF CARBURETOR WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - emergency - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis DURING CRUISE FLIGHT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE PILOT OBSERVED THE CARBERATOR TEMPERATURE GUAGE INDICATING CAUTIONARY ZONE. HE APPLIED CABURETOR HEAT AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AFTER THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION INTO THE WIND; HOWEVER, HE NOTICED POWER LINES AND WAS FORCED TO TURN TO AVOID THEM. THE NEW HEADING CAUSED THE HELICOPTER TO LAND WITH A QUATERING TAIL WIND. AS THE HELICOPTER REACHED 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND IT LOST MAIN ROTOR RPM AND LANDED HARD. DURING THE LANDING SEQUENCE THE HELICOPTER BOUNCED AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 1993, at 1330 central standard time, a Brantly B-2 helicopter, N2111U, was substantially damaged following a forced landing due to a loss of engine power, near Giddings, Texas. The pilot/owner and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan was filed. The pilot reported, during an interview conducted by the investigator-in-charge, that while in cruise flight he noticed that the engine started to run rough and the carburetor temperature gauge was indicating that the temperature had reached the cautionary zone. He further reported that he applied carburetor heat; however, the engine lost complete power and he entered an autorotation into the wind. During the autorotative descent, he observed electrical power lines in front of him; he turned to the right to avoid the power lines. The right turn resulted in the helicopter landing with a left quartering tail wind. Additionally, the pilot stated he applied initial pitch for cushioning at ten feet; however, the main rotor rpm had decayed to a point insufficient to sustain the landing and the helicopter impacted the ground hard and bounced. During the landing, the skids collapsed and the main rotor flexed downward resulting in a strike by a blade to the tailboom. The pilot further stated he believed he had carburetor icing. Temperature and dewpoint 51 and 30 degrees respectively ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2111U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2111U-2017-05-22), registration cancelled 2017-05-22, S/N 157, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brantly Helicopter B-2 - Registry model: [Brantly B-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/brantly-b-2) (registry code 1440502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 157 - Airframe hours: 512 - Engines: LYCOMING 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Turcotte Enterprises, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1993, 18 hours before - Departed: SGR, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: BURTON, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,128 total, 140 in this make and model, 7,872 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 30 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 19931224047189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931224047189A), Dec 24, 1993: Hynes B2A, Giddings, TX, Substantial damage. Rough engine at cruise used carb heat. Engine quit. Autorotated. Turned avoid wires downwind. Rs lost. Hard landing ## Other investigations on N2111U (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI74FEC14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74FEC14), Aug 12, 1973: Brantly B2 (N2111U), Sterling Hts, MI, substantial damage 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.