- Date
- February 19, 2002, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Lorain, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9296FHughes 269C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 8, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20020219004849A
- Case key
- 54212
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Analysis
The accident occurred during the pilot's second solo takeoff in a helicopter, and his first takeoff from a platform. After quickly lifting off, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right. The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." The helicopter impacted the platform, then rolled onto its left side and impacted the ground. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
Factual narrative
On February 19, 2002, at 1510 eastern standard time, a Hughes 269C helicopter, N9296F, was substantially damaged during a takeoff attempt from a platform at the Lorain County Regional Airport (LPR), Lorain, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that during the takeoff, he lifted the helicopter "quickly" off the platform. As the helicopter gained altitude, it began a turn to the right, and the pilot applied left pedal. As the pilot continued to increase the collective, the helicopter began a 360-degree "aggravated spin" to the right.
The pilot then "chopped" the throttle and the collective, and the helicopter "dropped fast." He added a slight amount of collective before landing, and the spin to the right became more aggravated. The helicopter then impacted the platform, and rolled over, onto its side.
Several witnesses observed the helicopter "spinning" after liftoff from the platform, then impact the ground on its left side.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the helicopter after the accident. The tail rotor blades were rotated by hand and control continuity was confirmed to the main rotor blades. Control continuity was also confirmed from the cyclic and collective to the main rotor blades, and from the pedals to the tail rotor blades. All belts in the tail boom pulley assembly were in place, and the tail rotor drive shaft was twisted aft of the upper pulley assembly. The clutch switch and actuator were observed in the engaged position, and the belt tension pulley was engaged. The magneto switch was observed in the "both" position. Substantial damage was observed to the main rotor and tail rotor blades.
The pilot reported 173 hours of total flight experience, and 30 hours of rotary wing flight time. He had 10 flight hours in make and model, and this was his second solo takeoff, and first time taking off from a platform.
The winds reported at the airport, at 1453, were from 160 degrees at 8 knots.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9296F
- Reported as
- Hughes 269C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 350407
- Airframe hours
- 2,053.2
- Engine
- Lycoming RL-21866-51A, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Hurst Aviation
- Registered owner
- Rapidturn Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 27, 2001 · 21.9 hours before
- Departed
- LPR
- Destination
- LPR
- Airport
- LPR · Lorain County Regional Airport
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- November 15, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 173 total · 10 in this make and model · 42 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- LPR
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 24, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.