MT. PLEASANT, PA, USA
N2273U
Brantly Helicopter B-2B
THE PLT FLEW TO GREENSBURG, WHERE HE BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A 2 FT HOVER AND DEPARTED WITH A MAX PERFORMANCE CLIMB. HE STATED THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CONTROL IRREGULARITIES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS 'A DUTCH ROLL WOBBLE TYPE OF SHUFFLE.' HE CONTINUED THE FLT & SAID THE 'SHUFFLE' SUBSIDED AS PWR WAS REDUCED DURING APCH TO MT PLEASANT. HOWEVER, HE EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS DURING THE APCH WHICH WERE PROPORTIONAL TO CHANGES IN COLLECTIVE & THROTTLE APPLICATIONS. INITIALLY, HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIND. THE PLT INCREASED THROTTLE, COLLECTIVE, RTPEDAL & BEGAN A CLIMB. THEN AS A PRECAUTION, HE CUT THE THROTTLE TO STOP AN INCREASING VIBRATION & KEEP THE ENG FROM OVERREVVING. COLLECTIVE WAS REDUCED TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, THEN WAS INCREASED ON DESCENT THRU 20 FT AGL, BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING A SKID. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, IT HAD INSUFFICIENT PWR & MADE A 360 DEG ROTATION BEFORE IMPACT.TWO MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED AND WERE FOUND WITHIN PROXIMITY OF THE HELICOPTER WITH IMPACT DAMAGE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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