Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Continental Copters El Tomcat Mk VI-C, N41830: Accident occurred July 08, 2019 in Franklin, Simpson County, Kentucky



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Franklin, Kentucky
Accident Number: ERA19TA213
Date & Time: July 8, 2019, 11:12 Local
Registration: N41830
Aircraft: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC TOMCAT MK6C 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other 
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural

Analysis

The helicopter pilot of the aerial application flight departed from the rooftop helipad of a truck to spray a field. He reported that as the helicopter turned, descended, and leveled off, he realized that the main rotor rpm began to decay. The pilot increased throttle, lowered the collective, and applied aft cyclic to increase rotor rpm; however, the tailboom contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled inverted, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain main rotor rpm after takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Aircraft Prop/rotor parameters - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

On July 8, 2019, about 1112 central daylight time, a Continental Copters Tomcat MK6C, N41830, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Franklin, Kentucky. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The local aerial application flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed a field near Franklin, Kentucky, about 1110.

The pilot stated that after 50 gallons of chemical and 5 gallons of fuel were added to the helicopter, he departed from a rooftop helipad of a truck in light and variable wind, to spray a field. As the helicopter turned, descended and leveled off to spray the field, the pilot realized that the main rotor rpm began to decay. He increased throttle, lowered the collective, and applied aft cyclic to increase rotor rpm, however, the tailboom contacted the ground and the helicopter rolled inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the main rotor blades, tailrotor, fuselage, and tailboom.

History of Flight

Maneuvering-low-alt flying Miscellaneous/other (Defining event)
Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial 
Age: 35,Male
Airplane Rating(s): None 
Seat Occupied: Center
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter 
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: June 4, 2017
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: March 4, 2019
Flight Time: 2128 hours (Total, all aircraft), 29 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC
Registration: N41830
Model/Series: TOMCAT MK6C
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 1973
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted (Special)
Serial Number: CCI-73-2
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: October 23, 2018
Annual Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2950 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 128 Hrs 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 6549 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycomig
ELT: Not installed 
Engine Model/Series: VO-435
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 250 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As: Tri State Helicopters Inc Operator Designator Code: TCSG

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC) 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BWG,547 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 11:04 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 30°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2100 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5000 ft AGL 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.97 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 24°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Franklin, KY 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Franklin, KY
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 11:10 Local
Type of Airspace: 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 36.68111,-86.631111

============

Location: Franklin, KY
Accident Number: ERA19TA213
Date & Time: 07/08/2019, 1112 CDT
Registration: N41830
Aircraft: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC TOMCAT MK6C
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

On July 8, 2019, about 1112 central daylight time, a Continental Copters Tomcat MK6C, N41830, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near Franklin, Kentucky. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The local aerial application flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed a field near Franklin, Kentucky, about 1110.

The pilot stated that after 50 gallons of chemical and 5 gallons of fuel were added to the helicopter, he departed from a rooftop helipad of a truck in light and variable wind, to spray a field. As the helicopter turned, descended and leveled off to spray the field, the pilot realized that the main rotor rpm began to decay. He increased throttle, lowered the collective, and applied aft cyclic to increase rotor rpm, however, the tailboom contacted the ground and the helicopter to roll inverted. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the main rotor blades, tailrotor, fuselage, and tailboom.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CONTINENTAL COPTERS INC
Registration: N41830
Model/Series: TOMCAT MK6C
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As: Tri State Helicopters Inc
Operator Designator Code: TCSG 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BWG, 547 ft msl
Observation Time: 1104 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 20 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 24°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2100 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 3 knots / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 5000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Franklin, KY
Destination: Franklin, KY

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 36.681111, -86.631111





BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky – Franklin-Simpson Fire and Rescue was called to a helicopter crash on Kummer Road in Simpson County just before 11 a.m. Monday morning.

“I’d say it’s probably 75 to 100 feet off the end of this water way,” said Robert Palmer, director of Simpson County Emergency Management.

The chopper was dusting crops when it went down.

“The helicopter’s destroyed,” added Palmer. “It’s crumpled up. The pilot’s seat is kind of sitting out in the open facing when you walk in there. The helicopter’s completely destroyed.”

With the help of drones, emergency crews searched the area for well over an hour before finding the wreckage in a tall field of corn, which posed a huge challenge in finding the crash site.

“Finding out for sure where it was at and then dealing with eight to ten foot tall corn and the heat,” said Palmer. “The heat’s the big deal today.”

First responders were notified of the crash when the pilot showed up at an emergency room at Medical Center of Franklin and told medical personnel there he had crashed the aircraft, Palmer said.

Kentucky State Police identified Anthonie Christoffel Vos, 35, of Sevierville, Tennessee, as the pilot of the Continental Copters El Tomcat Mk VI-C, according to a release from KSP. He was crop dusting in the Kummer and Schweizer Roads area.

Vos was treated for minor injuries and released.

“I can tell you he’s lucky,” said Palmer. “He went in pretty hard, pretty short.”

There is no worry of any extra environmental damage due to the crash.

“I would say the environmental impact is zero to almost nothing,” Palmer said. “What’s out there was supposed to go on the crops anyway. It’s not gonna go anywhere from there.”

State police contacted the Federal Aviation Administration for further investigation of the crash.

Story and video ➤ https://www.wnky.com

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