Lakeview - Griffith Fi Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeview, Michigan 48850
Saturday, August 7, 2010 13:33 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was making a high approach in the helicopter due to other aircraft traffic. About 50 feet above the ground he experienced a settling with power event. He could not arrest the descent and the helicopter impacted the ground, bounced, and became airborne again. The helicopter was spinning due to the separation of the tail boom and tail rotor. The helicopter then struck a hangar and impacted the ground a second time. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical deficiencies with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive descent angle during landing approach, which resulted in a settling with power condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1333
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lakeview
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48850
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432708N
Event Location Longitude 0851553w
Event Location Airport Lakeview Airport - Griffith Fi
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 13C
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 969
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1335 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID RQB
Elevation of weather observation facility 990
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4900
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) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
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) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KRQB 071735Z AUTO 25007KT 10SM SCT049 SCT055 SCT08
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27579
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 5 2010 10:42AM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11XC
NTSB Number CEN10CA469
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name HUGHES
Aircraft Model 269B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0102
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAPEN CLAYTON C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MECOSTA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49332-9741
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name CAPEN CLAYTON C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MECOSTA
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49332-9741
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 13C
Departure City Lakeview
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 13C
Destination City Lakeview
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2010 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --