Gallenstein Heliport Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blue Ash, Ohio 45236
Friday, October 6, 1995 15:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE COMMERCIAL PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF OBSTACLES IN THE VICINITY OF THE HELICOPTER, HE DECIDED TO HOVER TAXI BACKWARDS, THEN MAKE A LEFT TURN FOR TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN TO HOVER TAXI WITH A TAILWIND OF 14 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 22 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE WINDS, HE WAS FOCUSED ON THE WINDSOCK, HIS FLIGHT PATH AND ENGINE RPM, AND FORGOT ABOUT THE HELICOPTER WHICH WAS PARKED BEHIND HIM. THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK THE PARKED HELICOPTER AS THE PILOT WAS TURNING THE HELICOPTER TO THE LEFT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the commercial pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during hover-taxi operations. Related factors the tailwind, the nearby obstacle, and the misjudged maneuver to avoid obstacles.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1520
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BLUE ASH
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45236
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GALLENSTEIN HELIPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 22OH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 185
Weather Observation Facility ID LUK
Elevation of weather observation facility 483
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 22
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 939
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 6 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2136
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51786
NTSB Number BFO96LA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ENSTROM
Aircraft Model F28-280C
Aircraft Series Identifier F28-280C
Aircraft Serial Number 450
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Oct 4 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2229
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NEW HORIZONS HELICOPTERS, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8561 PLAINFIELD LN
Aircraft Owner City CINCINNATI
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45236
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 22OH
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --