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NTSB Report

October 3, 2019 · Bell OH 58A No Series · N911RW

Fort Meade, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 3, 2019
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fort Meade, FL
Aircraft
Bell OH 58A No Series (1972)
Tail Number
N911RW
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA20LA004

The pilot was attempting to rescue a gyroplane pilot who made a forced landing in a phosphate pit and gypsum pond by having him grab the right skid of the helicopter and lift him to safety. The pilot anticipated that he would have to compensate for the change in the helicopter's center of gravity when the gyroplane pilot grabbed the skid. The gyroplane pilot’s first two attempts to grab the helicopter’s right skid were unsuccessful. The helicopter pilot stated that the gyroplane pilot’s third attempt was more aggressive than the previous two attempts and that he was not prepared for the sudden center-of-gravity shift that resulted once the gyroplane pilot grabbed the right skid. The helicopter then entered a dynamic rollover to the right and impacted the gypsum pond, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor, and the tailboom.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter, which resulted in a dynamic rollover and impact with terrain.

Full Narrative

On October 3, 2019, about 1503 eastern daylight time, a Bell OH-58A helicopter, N911RW, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Fort Meade, Florida. The commercial pilot and the individual being rescued were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Polk County, Florida, sheriff's office as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public-use flight. The pilot was dispatched from Bartow Executive Airport (BOW), Bartow, Florida, about 1412 to provide aerial support for the pilot of a gyroplane who had made a forced landing in a phosphate pit and gypsum pond. The foliage in the gypsum pond was about 6 to 9 ft tall. The helicopter pilot stated that the gyroplane pilot was standing on his seat while holding onto the rotor blades. The helicopter pilot was concerned that the gyroplane pilot would sink into the gypsum, so he attempted to rescue the gyroplane pilot by having him grab the helicopter's right skid and then lifting him to safety. The helicopter pilot anticipated that he would have to compensate for the change in the helicopter's center of gravity (CG) when the gyroplane pilot grabbed the skid. During the first two attempts, the gyroplane pilot was unable to hold on to the skid because his hands were covered in gypsum. During the third attempt, the gyroplane pilot had repositioned himself closer to the helicopter's right skid, and the helicopter pilot reported that, "without hesitation and without warning, [the gyroplane pilot] jumped up in the air towards my skid, grabbing the skid in the air, causing his entire weight to be forced onto my skid.” The helicopter pilot further reported that the helicopter’s CG had “immediately changed,” which caused the helicopter to descend and make “an abrupt and violent roll” toward the right. The helicopter pilot immediately increased collective to prevent striking the gyroplane with the helicopter's skid but reported that the "roll was tremendous and without warning." The pilot tried to push the cyclic forward to increase speed and lift, but the helicopter continued to roll to the right and then impacted the gypsum pond, which resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter’s main rotor blades, tail rotor, and tailboom. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions at the time of the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration's Rotorcraft Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21) states the following about a helicopter’s lateral roll tendency, referred to as a “dynamic rollover”: For dynamic rollover to occur, some factor has to first cause the helicopter to roll or pivot around a skid, or landing gear wheel, until its critical rollover angle is reached. Then, beyond this point, main rotor thrust continues the roll and recovery is impossible. If the critical rollover angle is exceeded, the helicopter rolls on its side regardless of the cyclic corrections made. Dynamic rollover begins when the helicopter starts to pivot around its skid or wheel. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including the failure to remove a tiedown or skid securing device, or if the skid or wheel contacts a fixed object while hovering sideward, or if the gear is stuck in ice, soft asphalt, or mud. Dynamic rollover may also occur if you do not use the proper landing or takeoff technique or while performing slope operations. Whatever the cause, if the gear or skid becomes a pivot point, dynamic rollover is possible if you do not use the proper corrective technique.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:03 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBell OH 58A No Series
Tail NumberN911RW
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboshaft
Engine DetailsRolls Royce · T63-A720 · Turboshaft · 420
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 52 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 12 kt, gusting 18 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter29.95 inHg
Observation Time18:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data