Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Portland, Maine
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N330JT
Accident Number: ERA16LA330
Date & Time: 09/27/2016, 1554 EDT
Registration: N330JT
Aircraft: TATKOVSKY JAMES G SAFARI
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Abrupt maneuver
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 27, 2016, about 1554 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Safari helicopter, N330JT, collided with trees and terrain during takeoff near Andover, New Hampshire. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The helicopter was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal, local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the flight which was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot, who did not hold a rotorcraft-helicopter category and class rating, stated that he pushed the helicopter out of the barn and onto a concrete pad and then added 10 gallons of 100 low lead fuel which filled both fuel tanks. He then performed a preflight inspection and found no discrepancies. After starting the engine, under calm wind, he flew to a pasture 20 to 25 ft away and landed, then practiced hovering, rearward flight, and turns. He then positioned the helicopter to a different portion of the field, which allowed for takeoff to the northwest towards trees. He lifted to a 5 ft hover (reported to be higher than usual because of rising terrain ahead), and added full power noting 27 inches of manifold pressure. Noting that the engine and main rotor tachometers were in the green arcs, he initiated takeoff and accelerated to between 25 and 30 mph. When the helicopter was above the height of a treeline ahead, the helicopter began, "a more vertical ascent than I could counteract with cyclic", with a corresponding decrease in airspeed. He adjusted the collective to maintain altitude and applied forward cyclic control input to increase airspeed. As the flight continued over the trees, the helicopter did not respond to forward cyclic control input. When near the far end of the trees, the "helicopter came to a complete stop" though the sound from the main rotor blades seemed to have increased. The helicopter yawed to the right and the nose dropped, then the tail boom "went down and swung left taking the helicopter into the trees." He exited the helicopter and was taken to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Examination of the accident site revealed the helicopter came to rest in a wooded area resting against the base of a small tree. The helicopter was resting on its left side in a nose-low attitude, and was extensively damaged by a postcrash fire, which destroyed the cockpit, and also involved the engine compartment/main rotor area. The tail boom with tail rotor drive shaft was displaced down relative to normal orientation of the helicopter. All components necessary to sustain flight remained attached or were in close proximity. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector who examined the helicopter, although it was extensively heat damaged, there was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The inspector did note that although the pilot had a repairman certificate, there was no permanent maintenance records or evidence of a condition inspection being performed since the helicopter was built in 2004. An FAA operations inspector reported that the pilot did not have a medical certificate, and was "…teaching himself to fly."
Although the pilot did not have a current medical certificate, he indicated there was nothing physically wrong with him that caused the accident. He reported having 154 hours total time in the accident make and model helicopter, of which 144 hours were as pilot-in-command. In the last 90 days he reported accruing 2 hours in the accident helicopter.
According to a representative of the helicopter manufacturer, unexpected movement of the collective could occur if either the collective spring or cable were to fail. As a result, they introduced installation of a redundant system consisting of a second spring and cable.
The pilot reported no failure or malfunction of the cyclic or collective flight controls from the cockpit to the main rotor. The helicopter was equipped with redundant collective springs and cables, neither of which were failed. The pilot did report that both springs exhibited evidence of slight elongation when compared with springs installed on an exemplar helicopter.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 70, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None None
Last FAA Medical Exam: 11/30/2009
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 154 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: TATKOVSKY JAMES G
Registration: N330JT
Model/Series: SAFARI 400
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 0474N
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/07/2015, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1450 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 154 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: O-320-B2A
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LEB, 603 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 26 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1553 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 299°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.88 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 9°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Andover, NH
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Andover, NH
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1554 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 43.420833, -71.780556
NTSB Identification: ERA16LA330
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in Andover, NH
Aircraft: TATKOVSKY JAMES G SAFARI, registration: N330JT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On September 27, 2016, about 1554 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Safari helicopter, N330JT, collided with trees and terrain during takeoff near Andover, New Hampshire. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal, local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight which was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated to law enforcement while hospitalized that after liftoff the helicopter would not transition to cruise flight. When near or at the top of evergreen trees immediately adjacent to the departure location, the helicopter "went vertical" and he could not control it. The helicopter's tail impacted a tree and the helicopter then descended to the ground. The pilot exited the helicopter and a postcrash fire occurred.
Examination of the helicopter was pending recovery from the accident site.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in Andover, NH
Aircraft: TATKOVSKY JAMES G SAFARI, registration: N330JT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On September 27, 2016, about 1554 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Safari helicopter, N330JT, collided with trees and terrain during takeoff near Andover, New Hampshire. The airline transport pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed by a postcrash fire. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal, local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the flight which was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated to law enforcement while hospitalized that after liftoff the helicopter would not transition to cruise flight. When near or at the top of evergreen trees immediately adjacent to the departure location, the helicopter "went vertical" and he could not control it. The helicopter's tail impacted a tree and the helicopter then descended to the ground. The pilot exited the helicopter and a postcrash fire occurred.
Examination of the helicopter was pending recovery from the accident site.
ANDOVER, N.H. —A helicopter crashed Tuesday afternoon in Andover, injuring the pilot.
The FAA said that a Canadian Home Rotors Safari helicopter crashed about 4 p.m. in the area of 12 River's Edge Road as it was taking off from a private residence in Andover.
Officials said the pilot was able to call 911 himself, and he was able to get out of the helicopter on his own.
The helicopter crashed in some pine trees, but it was on the ground and on fire when emergency crews arrived. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in a short time.
The pilot was taken to a hospital with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.
Story and video: http://www.wmur.com
ANDOVER — A local man crashed his helicopter in the woods off River’s Edge Road Tuesday afternoon and walked away without serious injuries.
Fire Chief Rene Lefebvre said the man, who lives in Andover and has his own helicopter and landing pad, is believed to have taken off from his own pad but crashed soon after.
The helicopter struck some trees in the woods about 300 feet from a home at 15 River’s Edge Road sometime before 3:50 p.m., he said.
Lefebvre would not identify the pilot, as state police were handling the incident. But he said the man walked away from the crash and called 911 on his cellphone, saying he was suffering from burn injuries and possibly other other injuries.
A nearby homeowner also called 911 after hearing the crash, the chief said.
The pilot, who was the only one aboard the helicopter, was taken to Concord Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, Lefebvre said.
“He really wasn’t hurt too badly,” he said. “But when you consider the mechanism that caused his injuries, that’s not so bad.”
The pilot told fire dispatchers that he had two full tanks of fuel aboard. Lefebvre said firefighters found the helicopter burning and put out the flames before they spread.
The helicopter was “badly damaged” and may be a total loss, Lefebvre said.
As town firefighters and police left the scene, authorities from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified. The NTSB will handle the investigation of the incident, Lefebvre said.
Lefebvre said he wasn’t sure why the helicopter struck the trees and crashed, but said the pilot should feel fortunate.
“The pilot said it was a bad day, but we think it’s a good day,” Lefebvre said. “Any day you can walk away from a helicopter crash is a good day.”
- Source: http://www.unionleader.com
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