Laurel Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Laurel, Montana 59044
Wednesday, September 27, 2000 17:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While practicing takeoffs and landings, the student pilot inadvertently applied excessive collective input during the second takeoff of his first solo flight, and the helicopter climbed to approximately 12 feet AGL. This action resulted in a decay of rotor RPM and loss of tail rotor effectiveness, followed by a yaw to the right. The pilot was unable to regain control of the helicopter as it continued to spin, and ascending to approximately 50 feet AGL. After 2-3, 360-degree revolutions, the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent and collided with the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its left side. No mechanical difficulties or malfunctions were reported.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure to maintain aircraft control during hover operations. Inadequate remedial action by the pilot was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/27/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LAUREL
Event State MONTANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 59044
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport LAUREL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6S8
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 3515
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID BIL
Elevation of weather observation facility 3515
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1014
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CTR
NTSB Notification Date Sep 27 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1711
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2001 3:09PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9503F
NTSB Number SEA00LA193
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 1060271
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KENT POTTER
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 936
Aircraft Owner City LAUREL
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59044
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 6S8
Departure City LAUREL
Departure State MT
Departure Country
Departure Time 1705
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:09AM
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 --