HAMILTON, MA, USA
N219CT
BELL 206B
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM A TREE SURROUNDED FIELD AT NIGHT, IN HIS PERSONALLY OWNED HELICOPTER. DURING INITIAL CLIMB, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK TREES AND THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING. THE HELICOPTER LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 60 HOURS IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL, WITH 40 HOURS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND. THE PILOT'S LAST THIRD CLASS MEDICAL WAS ISSUED 3 YEARS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WITH THE RESTRICTIONS, 'NOT VALID FOR NIGHT FLYING OR BY COLOR SIGNAL CONTROL.'
On May 3, 1995, at 2130 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206B, N219CT, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and impacted the ground during a night takeoff near Hamilton, Massachusetts. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that at 2130, after engine start and run-up, he brought his personally owned helicopter to hover. He further stated: ...I checked controllability, C.G., and began a max- performance takeoff; at approximately 30 feet AGL the main rotor made contact with a large branch from an adjacent oak tree. I lowered the collective immediately and applied right pedal (autorotation), and attempted to make a running landing in an open grassy area. At approximately 8 feet I flared, bringing the speed back to 5 to 8 knots; the helicopter made contact with the ground in a slight right yaw. The helicopter slowly tilted right and entered dynamic rollover. The main rotors made contact with the ground and threw the aircraft onto it's left side. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the helicopter had been parked in a field about 200 feet long and 150 feet wide, surrounded by trees 75 feet high. The pilot had accumulated about 60 hours in this make and model helicopter, with 40 hours as a pilot-in-command. The pilot's last third class medical was issued May 9, 1992, with the restriction, "not valid for night flying or by color signal control."
the pilot's improper decision to fly at night with a night vision deficiency, and his failure to maintain clearance with trees during takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the trees and the subsequent hard landing.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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