- Date
- June 17, 2019, 17:12 local (21:12 UTC)
- Place
- Cobleskill, NY
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N135WJEurocopter EC135
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 13, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20190617004389A
- Case key
- 99823
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain situational awareness during takeoff from a confined area, which resulted in the helicopter rotors striking tree branches.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The helicopter operator reported that, during takeoff, the pilot allowed the helicopter to drift aft during a pedal turn, which resulted in the main rotor blades impacting tree branches that outlined the confined area of the landing zone. The pilot completed the remainder of the flight without incident. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the antitorque gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The operator of the helicopter reported that, during takeoff, the pilot allowed the helicopter to drift aft during a pedal turn. As the pilot performed a pedal turn, the main rotor blades struck tree branches that outlined the confined area of the landing zone. The remainder of the flight was completed without incident. Further inspection by the operator's maintenance personal identified two main rotor blades displayed damage at the tips, three fan-in-fin blades displayed bending, a crack in the vertical fin, puncture in the horizonal stabilizer and damage to the anti-torque gear box. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the anti-torque gear box. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N135WJ
- Reported as
- Eurocopter EC135 (P2)
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 0287
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 5,894
- Engines
- Pratt & Whitney 206B2, turbo shaftPratt & Whitney 206B2, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Air Methods Corporation
- Registered owner
- Equipment Operating Leases Llc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · June 17, 2019
- Departed
- Cobleskill, NY
- Destination
- NK64 · Albany, NY
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 11, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,672 total · 1,342 in this make and model · 3,672 as pilot in command · 27 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KSCH, 25 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.