Sunday, April 25, 2021

Loss of Control on Ground: Guimbal G-2 Cabri, N367PA; accident occurred April 26, 2019 at McMinnville Municipal Airport (KMMV), Yamhill County, Oregon





Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Hillsboro, Oregon

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: McMinnville, Oregon
Accident Number: GAA19CA226
Date & Time: April 26, 2019, 16:15 Local 
Registration: N367PA
Aircraft: Guimbal CABRI 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Instructional

Analysis

The pilot reported that the purpose of the training flight was to complete multiple simulated, engine failure autorotations without a power recovery (full-down autorotation). After he completed his first right, 180º turn, full-down autorotation, the airspeed was "too slow." He added that the instructor told him to maintain more speed during the right turn of his second attempt, and the pilot focused on maintaining more airspeed, but the descent rate increased "due to the speed." The pilot added that, after he completed the right turn and aligned with the runway centerline, he felt that the airspeed was fast, so he flared to reduce the ground speed and increase the main rotor rpm. However, the helicopter started to sink during the flare, so due to the low altitude, the pilot leveled the helicopter to prevent a tail strike. The helicopter touched down on its skids with "substantial" ground speed and veered slightly right. The pilot applied full left cyclic and pedal input, but the helicopter continued to veer right. The helicopter exited the runway and rolled over on its left side. The fuselage and main rotor blades were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

The flight instructor reported that the 180º right turn aligned the helicopter with the runway centerline but at a lower altitude than was desirable because it prevented the pilot from conducting a normal flare "as the tail would have struck the runway." He added that, a normal flare before touchdown in a fulldown autorotation would result in a 30º nose-up attitude, but the pilot was only able to achieve about a 10º nose-up attitude "for fear of damaging the tail." 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper landing flare during a turning, full-down autorotation, which resulted in a lower than-normal rotor rpm, a faster-than-normal ground run speed, and the subsequent loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and a roll-over. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Findings

Aircraft Landing flare - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Student/instructed pilot
Aircraft Prop/rotor parameters - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Delayed action - Instructor/check pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-flare/touchdown Simulated/training event
Landing-flare/touchdown Abnormal runway contact
Landing-flare/touchdown Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Landing-flare/touchdown Attempted remediation/recovery
Landing-flare/touchdown Runway excursion
Landing-flare/touchdown Roll over

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/20/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 04/07/2019
Flight Time: (Estimated) 3359.3 hours (Total, all aircraft), 2189 hours (Total, this make and model), 3303 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 114 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 53 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Guimbal
Registration: N367PA
Model/Series: CABRI G2
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 1108
Landing Gear Type: Skid
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/26/2019, Continuous Airworthiness
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1543 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1733.3 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-360-J2A
Registered Owner: Precision Flight Training Inc
Rated Power: 145 hp
Operator: Precision Flight Training Inc
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Pilot School (141)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMMV, 159 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2253 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 70°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 180°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.19 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 6°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: McMinnville, OR (MMV)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Destination: McMinnville, OR (MMV)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1600 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: McMinnville Muni (MMV)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 162 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 17
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4340 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Simulated Forced Landing; Traffic Pattern

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: 45.194444, -123.136111 (est)