LAS VEGAS, NV, USA
N2301C
ROBINSON R-22B
ACCORDING TO STATEMENTS FROM THE PILOT AND TWO GROUND WITNESSES, THE HELICOPTER WAS DEPARTING FROM A PRIVATE HELIPAD AND DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB A SUDDEN 30 KNOT TAIL WIND WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SETTLE AND THE PILOT HAD TO USE THE REMAINING COLLECTIVE ENERGY TO BALLOON OVER A SET OF POWER LINES. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED OVER. THE HELIPAD IS SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY TALL TREES AND BUILDINGS, AND, TAKEOFFS MUST BE MADE TO THE EAST. BEFORE THE TAKEOFF BEGAN, THE PILOT SAID THE WINDS WERE FROM THE EAST AT ABOUT 5 KNOTS. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE WINDS SHIFTED FROM A HEAD WIND TO A TAIL WIND AND A 30 KNOT GUST AROSE. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT A MICROBURST HAD OCCURRED. TWO GROUND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF WITH A LIGHT HEAD WIND AND AS IT BEGAN TO CLIMB A VERY STRONG GUST OF WIND CAME FROM BEHIND THE HELICOPTER.
THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A SUDDEN AND STRONG TAIL WIND COMPONENT DURING A CRITICAL PHASE OF FLIGHT WHICH WAS BEYOND THE CAPABILITY OF THE HELICOPTER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE CONFINED NATURE OF THE HELIPAD WITH HIGH OBSTACLES AND POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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