Pilot Debrief

BELL OH 58A near Raleigh, NC — 2018-06-19

Final reportERA18LA170
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Date
2018-06-19
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
Airport
3NC2
Aircraft
BELL OH 58A
Registration
N303HP
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Preflight

Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detach ground handling equipment from the helicopter before initiating the takeoff, which resulted in the subsequent dynamic rollover.

NTSB narrative

In preparation for a local flight, the commercial pilot moved the helicopter from the hangar to the helipad on an electric transporter that was attached to the helicopter skids. During the pilot's preflight preparation, shortly after he had unhooked the left skid from the transporter, the passenger interrupted him to ask if the flight controls could be removed from the copilot's side. After removing the controls, the pilot continued with his preflight inspection; however, he forgot to unhook the right skid from the transporter. Subsequently, during the takeoff, the helicopter rolled right until the main rotor blades struck the ground. The pilot's failure to unhook the transporter from the right skid led to the subsequent dynamic rollover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should not have removed controls after passenger's inquiry.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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