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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

January 27, 2001 · Schweizer 269C · N99DK

Damon, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
January 27, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Damon, TX
Aircraft
Schweizer 269C
Tail Number
N99DK
Operator
Barr Air Patrol
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW01LA053

The pilot landed the helicopter off airport due to the observer becoming sick. After the observer recovered, the pilot attempted to takeoff. With the helicopter headed into the wind, he increased collective. The left skid lifted first and he applied the correction he "thought was appropriate: more left stick/cyclic." The pilot then felt the skid continue to rise, and he had the feeling that the right skid was "hooked" by the ground. He applied "full left stick/cyclic deflection and lowered collective." The pilot stated that "at that time I believe a wind shift with a gust blew under my rotor and pushed me over." The main rotor blades hit the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control during takeoff to a hover, which resulted in a dynamic rollover.

Full Narrative

On January 27, 2001, at 1600 central standard time, a Schweizer 269C helicopter, N99DK, was substantially damaged when it rolled over during takeoff near Damon, Texas. The helicopter was registered to Cape Atlantic Landowners Association, Inc., of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and operated by Barr Air Patrol of Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot and observer were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial observation flight. The flight originated from the Houston Airpark Airport, Pearland, Texas, about 1500, for a power line patrol. The pilot reported that he landed the helicopter off airport due to the observer becoming sick. After the observer recovered, he attempted to takeoff. With the helicopter headed into the wind, he increased collective. The left skid lifted first and he applied the correction he "thought was appropriate: more left stick/cyclic." The pilot further reported that he then felt the skid continue to rise, and he had the feeling that the right skid was "hooked" by the ground. He applied "full left stick/cyclic deflection and lowered collective." The pilot stated that "at that time I believe a wind shift with a gust blew under my rotor and pushed me over." The main rotor blades hit the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The operator reported that the main rotor transmission, main rotor blades, tail boom, tail rotor, and the right side of the fuselage were damaged.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchweizer 269C
Tail NumberN99DK
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBarr Air Patrol
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · HIO-360-D1A · Reciprocating · 190
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 25 · Second Class · None
Crew 2None · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 14 kt, gusting 19 kt
Visibility6 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 63 F
Altimeter30.05 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data