Willard Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bremen, Ohio 43107
Saturday, August 23, 2008 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was practicing a quick-stop maneuver when the accident occurred. He stated that the helicopter's main rotor speed was too low as he flared for landing. The helicopter landed hard, bounced off the right side of the runway, and then rolled over in a drainage ditch. The pilot reported that his most recent FAA medical examination and flight review were completed in 2001 and 1999, respectively.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient main rotor speed during the quick-stop maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the drainage ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Bremen
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43107
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394200N
Event Location Longitude 0822800W
Event Location Airport Willard Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 62OH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 820
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID LHQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 868
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.19
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) 24584
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 8 2008 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Columbus FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2256W
NTSB Number CHI08CA267
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 269A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1181018
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3268
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name American Air Adventures, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6815 Bremen Road, SE
Aircraft Owner City Lancaster
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43130
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name American Air Adventures, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6815 Bremen Road, SE
Operator City Lancaster
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 43130
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 62OH
Departure City Bremen
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 62OH
Destination City Bremen
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 8 2008 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --