Burke Lakefront Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Friday, October 31, 1997 14:16 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that while flying in wind reported at 20 knots, he encountering winds up to 35 knots. During a downwind approach to the airport, the pilot could neither arrest his descent with collective nor maintain directional control with anti-torque pedals. The helicopter spun to the right during the uncontrolled descent and crashed. The pilot said: '...the engine was at redline and I was running out of collective. It spun around to the right again and to the ground.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to recover from settling-with-power. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's downwind approach and low airspeed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/1997
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1416
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City CLEVELAND
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44114
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BURKE LAKEFRONT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BKL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 584
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1417 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 584
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 20
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1461
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 31 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1444
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:38PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2273W
NTSB Number NYC98LA025
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 Hughes
Aircraft Model 269B
Aircraft Series Identifier 269B
Aircraft Serial Number 790431
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 10 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 3491
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD B. DEMCHUK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1001 LARES LANE
Aircraft Owner City BRUNSWICK
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44212
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BKL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Approach
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 Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --