Training Area Echo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Titusville, Florida 32780
Tuesady, March 6, 2012 9:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After landing the helicopter at a local training area so two students could switch seats, the flight instructor initiated a takeoff. The wind was 28 knots, gusting up to 40 knots, and the takeoff area was adjacent to a line of trees. When the flight instructor raised the collective, the helicopter immediately rolled to the right. The instructor attempted to stop the roll with opposite cyclic; however, this was unsuccessful and the helicopter came to rest inverted. The instructor shut down the engine, and he and the students exited the helicopter. Postaccident examination revealed that the student in the right cockpit seat was still adjusting her anti-torque pedals when the takeoff began. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The accident sequence was consistent with a "dynamic rollover" scenario.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's attempted takeoff in gusting wind conditions while the student pilot was adjusting her anti-torque pedals, which resulted in a dynamic rollover event.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Titusville
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32780
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 282730N
Event Location Longitude 0805144W
Event Location Airport Training Area Echo
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 950 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TIX
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 28
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 40
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 3
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30323
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 9 2012 3:20PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83AP
NTSB Number ERA12LA210
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELL
Aircraft Model 206B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4439
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 13 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 66
Airframe Hours 459
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GM LEASING CO LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1318 SMEDE HWY
Aircraft Owner City BROUSSARD
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70518-8028
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Bristow Academy
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 365 Golden Knights Blvd
Operator City Titusville
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32780
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TIX
Departure City Titusville
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 810
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TIX
Destination City Titusville
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 9 2012 3:21PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --