# NTSB FTW95LA172: Brantly Helicopter B-2B, N2266U, Elk City, OK, March 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 8, 1995, 20:45 local (Mar 9, 1995, 02:45 UTC) - Place: Elk City, OK - Coordinates: 35.399063, -99.410263 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3991&lon=-99.4103&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19397 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19397/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA172 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALTITUDE DURING A HOVERING TURN. A FACTOR WAS THE LOW TEMPERATURE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, taxi - aerial - hovering turn - attempted, pilot in command - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - temperature,low (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT DRAGGED THE LEFT SKID OF THE HELICOPTER DURING A HOVER TAXI, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE RAMP AREA, AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO THE LEFT SIDE BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PILOT REPORTED THE TEMPERATURE AT 29 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THAT HE WAS 'VERY COLD DUE TO NO HEATER IN THE AIRCRAFT AND THAT HIS REFLEXES HAD SLOWED DOWN.' THE PILOT WAS ADDING A HELICOPTER RATING TO HIS COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE; HE WAS NOT RATED IN ROTORCRAFT/HELICOPTERS. ## Factual narrative On March 8, 1995, at 2045 central standard time, a Brantly B-2B, N2266U, was substantially damaged during hover taxi at Elk City, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. The helicopter was operated as an instructional flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and the flight originated in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, at 1840 central standard time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the solo cross country training flight and a flight plan was not filed. During a personal interview, conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he was in the process of adding a helicopter rating to his commercial certificate. Upon the return to Elk City, the pilot was hover taxiing his personal helicopter to the hangar when "he dragged the left skid of the helicopter while in a hovering turn," the main rotor blades struck the ramp area, and the helicopter came to rest on its left side. A temperature of 29 degrees Fahrenheit was reported by the pilot. The pilot further reported that "he was very cold due to no heater in the aircraft, and that his reflexes had slowed down." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2266U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2266U-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 428, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brantly Helicopter B-2B - Registry model: [Brantly B-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/brantly-b-2b) (registry code 1440506) (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: 428 - Airframe hours: 1791 - Engines: LYCOMING IVO-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alfred N. Martin - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 1994 - Departed: F61, PAULS VALLEY, OK - Destination: ELK - Airport: ELK, Elk City Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 4,031 total, 64 in this make and model, 17 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F ## 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 19950308013849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950308013849A), Mar 8, 1995: Hynes B2B, Elk City, OK, Substantial damage. During hover taxi dragged a skid on ramp. Main rotors hit ramp. Helicopter rolled onto its side. ## Other investigations on N2266U (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 CEN16LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA135), Mar 25, 2016: Brantly B 2B (N2266U), Galena, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 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.