# NTSB WPR09LA057: Kaman K-1200, N267KA, Santa Clarita, CA, December 17, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 17, 2008, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Santa Clarita, CA
- Coordinates: 34.476665, -118.460281 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4767&lon=-118.4603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69584/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69584
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA057

## Probable cause

The helicopter's encounter with a gusty crosswind condition during engine start that exceeded the helicopter's demonstrated wind envelope.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft capability: maximum crosswind component](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md?model=13027LS), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061015/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=13027LS), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=13027LS), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081); cases with it: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=13027LS), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md)

## Analysis

With the engine started and at flight idle, the ground crewman/mechanic disconnected the ground power cart from the helicopter's external power unit plug. As the ground crewman/mechanic was walking away from the helicopter, the pilot detected that a gust of wind was lifting the aircraft up off of its right main landing gear. The pilot applied full right cyclic to counter the uplifting condition; however, the wind gust continued lifting the helicopter to the left and nose down until the aircraft came to rest inverted. As the helicopter was rolling over, the main rotor blades impacted a fueling truck and struck the ground crewman/mechanic. There was no postcrash fire. The pilot noted that the winds were generally light and variable at the time of engine start, and estimated that the gust was from the east-southeast at up to 15 knots. He further reported that gusty, unpredictable wind conditions were not uncommon in the area. The closest aviation weather reporting station was 22 miles south east of the accident site and was reporting winds from 030 degrees at 7 knots. According to the Kaman K-1200 flight manual, the maximum right quartering tailwind condition for takeoff and landing is from 17 knots to 25 knots. The winds at the accident site most likely exceeded the maximum wind allowed with reference to the helicopter's prevailing wind envelope, which resulted in the helicopter lifting to the left and rolling over.

## Factual narrative

On December 17, 2008, about 0930 Pacific standard time, a Kaman Aerospace Corporation, K-1200 helicopter, N267KA, sustained substantial damage after being upset by a wind gust while standing with engines and rotors operating near Santa Clarita, California. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, while a ground crewman was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was not filed. The proposed flight was planned to operate in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, with Whiteman Airport (WHP), Los Angeles, California, the reported destination. In a statement submitted to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), as well as in a telephone conversation with the IIC, the pilot reported that about 30 seconds after starting the helicopter's engine and while in ground idle, the mechanic disconnected the auxiliary power unit (APU). The pilot stated "...then the helicopter began to lift on the right side. I applied full right cyclic to counter the lifting. I ran out of cyclic and was on the stops. The aircraft was still lifting to the left. The right wheel then came off the ground and the tail of the aircraft lifted over the nose." The pilot revealed that the [main rotor] blades impacted a fuel truck, then departed the [helicopter] before striking the mechanic. The helicopter subsequently flipped over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the helicopter was facing a north-northwest direction and the wind was from the east-southeast at a velocity of between 10 to 15 knots. The pilot further stated that the helicopter's main rotor blades were destroyed and that the tail boom was bent and twisted about 90 degrees to the right of the aircraft's longitudinal axis. There was no post crash fire. The pilot stated that gusty wind conditions in the area were not uncommon. According to the Kaman K-1200 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Approved Flight Manual, page 5-12, Figure 5-9, Prevailing Wind Envelope, the maximum right quartering tailwind condition for takeoff and landing is from 17 knots to 25 knots. (Refer to the attached Prevailing Wind Envelope.)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N267KA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N267KA), registered now, S/N A94-0037, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAMAN K-1200
- Registry model: [Kaman Aerospace K-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-aerospace-k-1200) (registry code 13027LS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Honeywell T5317 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-t5317-series) (registry code 33907, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: A94-0037
- Airframe hours: 5485
- Engines: Honeywell T5317 1500 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Superior Leasing LLC
- Registered owner: Superior Leasing LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 16, 2008, 11 hours before
- Departed: Santa Clarita, CA
- Destination: WHP, Los Angeles, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2008; seat: center; flight hours: 5,022 total, 1,520 in this make and model, 4,858 as pilot in command, 59 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observed at: BUR, 22 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 20081217853909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081217853909A), Dec 17, 2008: Kaman K1200, Santa Clarita, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On 12/17/2008 at 0930 after starting the helicopter the pilot reported that while at ground idle he felt a strong gust of wind. This lifted the rear and right…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69584. 1.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 870 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313145&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Telephone Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Telephone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Kaman Prevailing Wind Envelope Chart (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313147&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Kaman%20Prevailing%20Wind%20Envelope%20Chart-Master.PDF
- Image 1. View 1 of accident site. (item 4, .PDF, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313150&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%201.%20View%201%20of%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF
- Image 2. View 2 of accident site. (item 5, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313151&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%202.%20View%202%20of%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF
- Image 3. View 3 of accident site. (item 6, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313152&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%203.%20View%203%20of%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF
- Image 4. View 4 of accident site. (item 7, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%204.%20View%204%20of%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF
- Image 5. View 5 of accident site. (item 8, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Image%205.%20View%205%20of%20accident%20site.-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.

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