Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Henryetta, Oklahoma 74880
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 16:20 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter was facing into the wind and hovering, with an external load, over an open field adjacent to the work area. The pilot made a 180-degree right pedal turn to enter the work area, approximately 120 feet above the ground. While trimming for the left quartering tailwind, he heard a loud "pop" and felt a "thump" in his seat. He was unable move the cyclic control to the left, and the helicopter started a right banking turn. The helicopter rolled sharply to the right and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed no discrepancies. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight controls. When the flight controls were manipulated, no obstructions or binding were noted.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the cyclic control system for reasons undetermined.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/23/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Henryetta
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74880
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 352234N
Event Location Longitude 0960249W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
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 1610 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID OKM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4600
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KOKM 232010Z AUTO 20008KT 10SM SCT046 24/15
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) 28583
NTSB Notification Source NTSB Communications Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 16 2011 10:06AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N112AS
NTSB Number CEN11LA200
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
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 369D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 900808D
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
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 16 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 27823
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Aerial Solutions, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7074 Ramsey Ford Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Tabor City
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28463-9130
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Aerial Solutions, Inc.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tabor City
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28463-9130
Operator Code SJKL
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
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) External Load
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Henryetta
Departure State OK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Henryetta
Destination State OK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2011 2:09PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --