Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iowa, Louisiana 70647
Thursday, March 17, 2011 11:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing his helicopter. He transitioned to a hover at about three feet above the ground. The helicopter encountered a sudden gust of wind that blew the helicopter forward and down. The left skid impacted the ground and the helicopter turned to the right and rolled over onto its left side. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to its fuselage and tailcone. The recorded wind conditions indicated gusts from 15 knots to 19 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusty crosswinds during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Iowa
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70647
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301427N
Event Location Longitude 0930106W
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 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 250
Weather Observation Facility ID CWF
Elevation of weather observation facility 17
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 19
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCWF 171650Z 16015G19KT 10SM BKN024 BKN039 24/ A30
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) 28357
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ASW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2011 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11CU
NTSB Number CEN11CA231
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 HILLER
Aircraft Model UH-12D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 983
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 4 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6567
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAMS MANAGEMENT
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 640
Aircraft Owner City ANACOCO
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71403-0640
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WILLIAMS MANAGEMENT
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 640
Operator City ANACOCO
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 71403-0640
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code L39
Departure City Leesville
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1015
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Iowa
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2011 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record scoa
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 --