# NTSB WPR10CA132: Leza Lockwood Air Cam, N125AC, Everett, WA, February 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 9, 2010, 16:33 local (Feb 10, 2010, 00:33 UTC) - Place: Everett, WA - Coordinates: 47.956943, -122.281387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9569&lon=-122.2814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75355/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75355 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with the rotor downwash from a hovering heavy-lift helicopter. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: wake turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Earle Robert J AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/cases.md?model=056078L), [All aircraft, 47 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032025/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: Prop/jet/rotor blast/suction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082) (defining event); cases with it: [Earle Robert J AIR CAM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md?model=056078L), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/082/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot taxied the ultralight airplane west between two rows of hangars up to the boundary of the non-movement area before stopping to contact ground control. At this time an Army Chinook helicopter made an approach to runway 34R before entering a hover over the runway in front of the pilot at an altitude estimated to be from 75 to 100 feet above ground level. As the helicopter descended to about 20 to 30 feet above ground level, the rotor wash from the helicopter picked the airplane up off the ground and blew it backwards and to the right. The airplane subsequently dropped to the ground on its right wingtip, coming to rest upright about 25 to 30 feet from where it was originally positioned. The airplane sustained damage to its right wing, including the flap and aileron, and the right main landing gear. ## Factual narrative The pilot taxied the ultralight airplane west between two rows of hangars up to the boundary of the non-movement area before stopping to contact ground control. At this time an Army Chinook helicopter made an approach to runway 34R before entering a hover over the runway in front of the pilot at an altitude estimated to be from 75 to 100 feet above ground level. As the helicopter descended to about 20 to 30 feet above ground level, the rotor wash from the helicopter picked the airplane up off the ground and blew it backwards and to the right. The airplane subsequently dropped to the ground on its right wingtip, coming to rest upright about 25 to 30 feet from where it was originally positioned. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125AC), registered now, S/N 19, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Leza Lockwood Air Cam - Registry model: [Earle Robert J AIR CAM](https://openairdocs.org/model/earle-robert-j-air-cam) (registry code 056078L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 019 - Airframe hours: 532 - Engines: Rotax 912 S 100 horsepower reciprocating; Rotax 912 S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gerhardt C Soeffker - Registered owner: Robert J Earle - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2007, 9 hours before - Departed: PAE, Everett, WA - Destination: PAE, Everett, WA - Airport: PAE, Paine Field, runway 34R, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 1,072 total, 88 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 111 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: PAE ## 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 20100209026999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100209026999A), Feb 9, 2010: Earle Rober AIR CAM, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stationed at the end of hangar for taxi. Waited for ground control clearance when army helicopter flew right on top and wake turbulence flipped the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 3, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75355. 714 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 714 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.