Asheville Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Asheville, North Carolina 28732
Thursday, May 24, 2012 15:03 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was demonstrating a run-on landing during a flight review. The pilot conducted the approach for landing about 40 knots, and touched down left of the runway centerline on both skids. As he lowered the collective, the helicopter's right center skid shoe contacted a runway centerline light, which sheared off the right skid and its support arms. The pilot raised the collective, raised the helicopter to a hover, and turned toward the taxiway. Shortly after, the engine and rotor rpm began to drop, and the pilot opened the throttle and lowered the collective, setting the helicopter onto the left skid. The helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades. According to a representative from the helicopter’s type certificate holder, the skid shoes installed on the make and model of the accident helicopter at the time of manufacture were comprised of a single piece of steel that conformed tightly to the skid. The skid shoes observed on the accident helicopter were constructed from a flat metal plate attached to the skid by two brackets, resulting in a small gap between the skid shoe and the skid, which would have allowed the skid shoe to become caught on raised objects on the ground. Review of both the helicopter’s maintenance logbook and FAA airworthiness records did not reveal any entries relating to replacement of the skid shoes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The use of an aftermarket skid shoe, which resulted in the skid shoe becoming caught on a runway centerline light during the run-on landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1503
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Asheville
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28732
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 352610N
Event Location Longitude 0823231W
Event Location Airport Asheville Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2165
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID AVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 2165
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31004
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 Feb 13 2013 6:49PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7505Y
NTSB Number ERA12LA362
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 SCHWEIZER
Aircraft Model 269C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S1300
Certified Max Gross Weight 2050
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1716
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WOLF TREE AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CEDAR MOUNTAIN
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28718-0053
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WOLF TREE AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CEDAR MOUNTAIN
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28718-0053
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code AVL
Departure City Asheville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AVL
Destination City Asheville
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 13 2013 6:51PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 8001
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --