# NTSB GAA15CA122: Continental Copters Tomcat MK5A, N9045T, Elk Mound, WI, June 14, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 14, 2015, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Elk Mound, WI - Coordinates: 44.77639, -91.741943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7764&lon=-91.7419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA122 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a positive rate of climb after taking off from the service truck, which resulted in the helicopter impacting terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2390101), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he was conducting aerial agricultural operations in his helicopter and that he landed on the bed of the service truck. He reported that fungicide was added to the hopper, and he picked up off of the service truck to take off. As he nosed the helicopter over to pass through effective translational lift (ETL), he reported that he pulled in collective to climb, and that "I noticed wasn't gaining lift and was settling through ETL." The helicopter impacted a crop field and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported he was conducting aerial agricultural operations in his helicopter and that he landed on the bed of the service truck. He reported that fungicide was added to the hopper, and he picked up off of the service truck to take off. As he nosed the helicopter over to pass through effective translational lift (ETL), he reported that he pulled in collective to climb, and that "I noticed wasn't gaining lift and was settling through ETL." The helicopter impacted a crop field and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to the tail rotor drive shaft. The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9045T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9045T), registered now, S/N CCI-75-2, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC. TOMCAT MK5A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Continental Copters TOMCAT MK5A](https://openairdocs.org/model/continental-copters-tomcat-mk5a) (registry code 2390101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming VO-435 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-vo-435-series) (registry code 41525, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: CCI-75-2 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 4101.9 - Engines: LYCOMING VO-435 SERIES 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Churchill, Scott - Registered owner: Scotts Helicopter Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 2014, 28 hours before - Departed: Elk Mound, WI - Destination: Elk Mound, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 600 total, 400 in this make and model, 549 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KLUM, 9 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 20150614007529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150614007529A), Jun 14, 2015: Continental Copters Inc. TOMCAT MK5A, Downsville, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting aerial applications. After loading chemical the aircraft departed the platform on top of the service truck. Pilot stated that he nosed the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91371. 10.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431731&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431732&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – view of fuselage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 571 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431733&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20view%20of%20fuselage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – view of fuselage (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20view%20of%20fuselage%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 – view of tail rotor drive shaft (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431735&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20%E2%80%93%20view%20of%20tail%20rotor%20drive%20shaft%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.