Parker Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Olive, Alabama 35117
Tuesady, May 27, 2008 11:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certificated flight instructor and student pilot were conducting a hover taxi in a Schweizer 269C helicopter, from the hangar area to a fuel pump, a distance of approximately 600 feet. The student was initially at the controls. The flight instructor took the controls from the student upon reaching the fuel pump, after the student stated he was uncomfortable landing on a raised platform in the confined area. The flight instructor landed the helicopter on the platform, where it then "entered into ground resonance." The flight instructor "rolled off the throttle immediately," but the ground resonance intensified, resulting in substantial damage to the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's inadequate remedial action following an encounter with ground resonance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/27/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mt. Olive
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 35117
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334034N
Event Location Longitude 0865202W
Event Location Airport Parker Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AL18
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KBHM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
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 2900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23945
NTSB Notification Source Birmingham FSDO
NTSB Notification Date May 27 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 30 2008 9:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N368HF
NTSB Number NYC08CA195
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 S1616
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard Parker
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Mt. Olive
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 35117
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Heliflight, LLC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mt. Olive
Operator State AL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 35117
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code AL18
Departure City Mt. Olive
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AL18
Destination City Mt. Olive
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 11 2008 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --