Michael Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cicero, New York 13039
Wednesday, August 8, 2001 9:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

With the pilot at the controls, receiving instruction, an approach to the runway was made. As the helicopter neared the runway, it was flared and leveled about 3 feet above the ground, with no forward airspeed. The CFI observed that the rotor and engine rpm began to decrease, and helicopter was turning to the left. He then took the controls and attempted to correct the situation; however, the helicopter rotated 360 degrees, and the left landing skid struck the ground. The helicopter rolled over onto its left side and came to rest. When the helicopter and its powerplant were examined after the accident, no pre-impact failures were noted. The right landing skid was separated from the struts, and its fasteners were sheared. Dirt was observed packed into the heal of the skid. The middle and aft skid shoes were deformed and twisted clockwise on the skid. The damage was consistent of skid to ground contact while moving in a right lateral direction with significant impact force.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while hovering, and the CFI's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/2001
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 920
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Cicero
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13039
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Michael Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1G6
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 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13203
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 8 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-23 Rochester

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1281R
NTSB Number NYC01LA206
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schweizer
Aircraft Model 300C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1812
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 12 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 42
Airframe Hours 42
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frank Tartaglia Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Syracuse
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13211
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Highland Helicopter Services
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address Syracuse International Airport
Operator City Syracuse
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 13201
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code SYR
Departure City Syracuse
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 1G6
Destination City Cicero
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Hover - in ground effect
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 23 2002 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --