# NTSB WPR12LA107: Bell AH-1F, N197LE, Coolidge, AZ, March 1, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 1, 2012, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Coolidge, AZ - Coordinates: 32.934722, -111.4225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9347&lon=-111.4225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 13, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administrtion - NTSB case key (mKey): 82915 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82915/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82915 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA107 ## Probable cause A flight control malfunction while maneuvering for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell AH-1F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1181906), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell AH-1F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=1181906), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting flybys to film a segment for a documentary. During his last run, he initiated a 150- to 180-degree climbing right turn to about 200 ft above the ground. After the turn, he attempted to neutralize the flight controls in preparation for a normal approach to land, but he was unable to move them. The helicopter remained in the same turn rate with the same collective pitch and cyclic input until ground impact. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the flight control malfunction could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 01, 2012, at 1220 mountain standard time, N197LE, an experimental exhibition Bell AH-1F helicopter experienced a loss of directional control during maneuvering flight and impacted the ground at Coolidge Municipal Airport (P08), Coolidge, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation and Museum, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot and mechanic received minor injuries; the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed P08 at an undetermined time. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to film a segment for a documentary. The first flight of the filming sequence was uneventful. It lasted approximately 10 minutes and included helicopter flybys. The next filming sequence consisted of the accident helicopter and a vehicle in a race simulation. At 1205, a practice run began that terminated at the start/finish line. After crossing the finish line, the pilot initiated a climbing 150- to 180-degree right turn to an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground. He attempted to neutralize the controls in preparation for a normal approach for landing but was unable to move them. The helicopter remained in the same rate of turn, with the same collective pitch and cyclic input, until impact with the ground. The pilot further stated that, at impact, he tried to activate the emergency hydraulic switch. A postaccident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Neither the pilot nor the operator provided a completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident ReportForm 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N197LE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N197LE), registered now, S/N 83-24197, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELL AH-1F - Registry model: [Bell AH-1F](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-ah-1f) (registry code 1181906) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T53L-703](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t53l-703) (registry code 41557, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 83-24197 - Engines: LYCOMING T53L-703 1400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: P08, Coolidge, AZ - Destination: P08, Coolidge, AZ - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: P08, Coolidge Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: CGZ, 17 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 20120301003329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120301003329A), Mar 1, 2012: Bell AH-1F, Coolidge, AZ, Destroyed. Pilot stated that while conducting a pass heading north on runway 35 at approximately 50' AGL, he initiated a climbing right hand turn at a bank angle of… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82915. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot’s Statement (item 1, .PDF, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%E2%80%99s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Email – FAA (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20%E2%80%93%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.