Pilot Debrief

VERSTEEG HELICYCLE near Richland, WA — 2013-08-05

Final reportWPR13LA360
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Date
2013-08-05
Location
Richland, WA, USA
Airport
RLD
Aircraft
VERSTEEG HELICYCLE
Registration
N234RV
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Hover

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicycle control during hover due to an inadvertent control input.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in a hover about 10 feet above the ground, the helicycle began to spin right and that he was unable to stop the rotation. Subsequently, the helicycle struck a hangar with its tail and rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported that his right ankle was wrapped in a brace due to a recent injury and that, because of this brace, he inadvertently input pressure on the right rudder control input, which caused the helicycle to rotate right. The ankle brace prevented him from noticing the right rudder control input in a timely manner. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicycle that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have recognized and corrected rudder input earlier.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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