Friday, October 13, 2017

Eurocopter MBB-BK 117 C-2, N140SF, registered to BB&T Equipment Finance Corporation and operated by OSF Aviation LLC: Accident occurred October 12, 2017 at Ingersoll Airport (KCTK), Canton, Fulton County, Illinois

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois

Aviation Accident Final 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/N140SF

Location: Canton, IL
Accident Number: GAA18CA012
Date & Time: 10/12/2017, 2335 CDT
Registration: N140SF
Aircraft: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB BK 117
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional 

Analysis


The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was training a new company pilot at night, and they were using night vision goggles. He added that, while in a hover, he attempted to demonstrate the use of the controllable search light to the pilot in the right seat.

The flight instructor added that, "to adjust the light, I took the [left] cyclic in my left hand which would normally be holding the left collective and attempted to reach the control switch for the light and grabbed the throttles of the right collective with my right hand. My right hand would normally be on the left cyclic." He further added that, he then inadvertently pushed down on the collective and the helicopter began to settle on the runway. He reported in response "my reflex was to pull up with my left hand (which would normally be on the collective)," and when he did so the helicopter moved rearward. Subsequently, he "pushed the cyclic forward to correct" the rearward movement, but in doing so, the helicopter touched down hard and the main rotor impacted the upper wire strike protection unit.

The main rotor sustained substantial damage.

The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The flight instructor's incorrect cyclic control during a hover, which resulted in a hard landing. 

Findings

Aircraft 

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Instructor/check pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Object/animal/substance - Contributed to outcome

Factual Information

History of Flight

Maneuvering-hover
Loss of control in flight (Defining event)

Landing-flare/touchdown
Hard landing

Landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor
Age: 54, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane; Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/26/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/11/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 6933 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1130 hours (Total, this make and model), 5845 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 53 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 18 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 29, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter; Instrument Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/30/2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 12/15/2016
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 3888 hours (Total, all aircraft), 11 hours (Total, this make and model), 3650 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 56 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Manufacturer: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Registration: N140SF
Model/Series: MBB BK 117 C-2
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2010
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Transport
Serial Number: 9389
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 5
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 10/02/2017, AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 7887 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 3156.9 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: TURBOMECA/ SAFRAN
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: ARRIEL 1E2
Registered Owner: BB&T EQUIPMENT FINANCE CORP.
Rated Power: 760 hp
Operator: OSF AVIATION LLC.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: O84A 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCTK, 683 ft msl
Observation Time: 0454 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Partial Obscuration
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C / 11°C
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 2000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 11 knots, 180°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.11 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: PEORIA, IL (PIA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: Canton, IL (CTK)
Type of Clearance: Traffic Advisory; VFR; VFR Flight Following
Departure Time: 2255 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: INGERSOLL (CTK)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 683 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 36
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3899 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 40.563611, -90.074167 (est)

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