# NTSB NYC02LA067: Brantly Helicopter B-2, N2128U, Grove City, OH, March 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 5, 2002, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Grove City, OH - Coordinates: 39.877777, -83.099166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8778&lon=-83.0992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54306 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54306/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54306 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor related to the accident was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, hover - object - tree(s) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis As the helicopter lifted off of the portable landing pad, a gust of wind began to push the helicopter backwards towards a hangar. The pilot raised the collective and the helicopter rose above the hangar; however, it continued in a rearward direction until the main rotor blades struck a tree. The pilot "rolled off" the power, and the helicopter began to descend to the ground. During the decent, the landing skid caught a vine, which rolled the helicopter inverted before it impacted the ground. The wind reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 220 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 5, 2002, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Brantly Helicopter B-2, N2128U, was substantially damaged while hovering at a private helipad near Grove City, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the maintenance test flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he had just completed routine maintenance on the helicopter, and decided to perform a maintenance test flight. The helicopter was rolled out from the hangar on a portable landing pad, and the pilot started the engine. As the helicopter lifted off of the portable landing pad, a gust of wind began to push the helicopter backwards towards the hangar. The pilot raised the collective and the helicopter rose above the hangar; however, it continued in a rearward direction until the main rotor blades struck a tree. The pilot "rolled off" the power, and the helicopter began to descend to the ground. During the decent, the landing skid caught a vine, which rolled the helicopter inverted before it impacted the ground. The pilot reported 300 hours of total flight experience in helicopters, of which 10 hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The wind reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 220 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2128U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2128U-2024-02-10), registration cancelled 2024-02-10, S/N 176 (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) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 176 - Airframe hours: 580 - Engines: Lycoming VO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Lowell Newsome - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2002, 0 hours before - Departed: NONE, Grove City, OH - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 18, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 4,800 total, 10 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: CMH, 5 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 20020305004769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020305004769A), Mar 5, 2002: Hynes B2, Grovecity, OH, No damage. (-23) In the pilot's statement, Mr. Fife indicated that while hovering the helicopter below the tree line, all was fine. Once he had increased his hovering… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54306. 392 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.