Pvt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Askov, Minnesota 55704
Saturday, July 20, 2002 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A helicopter piloted by a pilot with a helicopter solo endorsement contacted the ground while in a right spin after an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported that the helicopter went into the spin upon lift off 5-10 feet above the ground. He stated that he could not get the spin to completely stop. The main rotor blades exhibited impact damage and torsional buckling of the tail rotor drive shaft was consistent with a stoppage forward of the tail rotor drive shaft. Flight control continuity was confirmed. The tail rotor's fracture surfaces were consistent with overstress.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Directional control not obtained/maintained during the aborted takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Askov
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55704
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport PVT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1235
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1833 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MZH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1076
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.79
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13908
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 20 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2038
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N897TH
NTSB Number CHI02LA208
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 269C-1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0065
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 3 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 1595
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis H. Jensen
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7119 Hwy 23
Aircraft Owner City Ascov
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55704
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Askov
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone SW
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 16 2003 8:32AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length 2650
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --