Plymouth Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360
Monday, March 12, 2007 8:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an instructional flight and while at a hover, the rotorcraft-rated private pilot initiated a clearing pedal turn to the right. After about a quarter turn, the helicopter "violently yawed to the right, and crashed," before the flight instructor could react. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies. In addition, the flight instructor was involved in a similar accident with the same helicopter, but a different student, a month earlier.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during a hover, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Plymouth
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02360
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415432N
Event Location Longitude 0704343W
Event Location Airport Plymouth Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PYM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 148
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 852 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PYM
Elevation of weather observation facility 148
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.27
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23257
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England Region Ops Ctr
NTSB Notification Date Mar 12 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office BOS FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2074K
NTSB Number NYC07LA077
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
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0136
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Feb 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1139
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ExecJet Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5 Millenium Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Plymouth
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02360
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5 Millenium Dr.
Operator City Plymouth
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02360
Operator Code LOES
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code PYM
Departure City Plymouth
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PMY
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Hover
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 10 2008 6:54PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --