Pilot Debrief

WILLIAMS HELICOPTER CORP UH 1H near Waitsburg, WA — 2014-05-23

Final reportWPR14LA206
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Date
2014-05-23
Location
Waitsburg, WA, USA
Aircraft
WILLIAMS HELICOPTER CORP UH 1H
Registration
N260TA
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

An extreme vibration immediately after entering forward flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the helicopter did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to maintain helicopter control during the landing.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to maintain helicopter control during the landing.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was conducting an agricultural cherry drying flight in the helicopter. Surveillance video showed the helicopter lift off the ground into a momentary low hover, climb and move forward and upward, and then immediately descend while rolling toward its right side until it impacted the ground. The pilot stated that the initial takeoff into the hover felt normal and that he then increased the altitude to get out of a dust cloud generated by the helicopter. As he transitioned the helicopter to forward flight, it experienced a "violent" one-to-one vibration that continued to increase as the helicopter continued forward. The pilot aborted the takeoff and subsequently lost control of the helicopter while attempting to land. Postaccident wreckage examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when vibration increased significantly.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • Photos
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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