Eurocopter France EC120B N491AE

Summary

On 3 February 2007 at about 19:00 local time, a Eurocopter France EC120B registered N491AE was involved in an accident near Griffin, Georgia, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 February 2007 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Griffin, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Griffin-Spalding County (6A2)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Eurocopter France EC120B

Registration

N491AE

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Griffin → Griffin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL07CA037

Nobody was injured.

The first pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the helicopter during hover in ground effect, and the second pilot's (a certificated flight instructor), delayed remedial action, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the ground. A factor associated with the accident was the first pilot's failure to relinquish the flight controls.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the certificated flight instructor (CFI), the helicopter-rated passengers were friends of the helicopter owner. The owner agreed to let both passengers pilot his helicopter with the CFI. After the first flight around the airport pattern, the front passenger exchanged seats with the rear passenger, who moved into the right front seat next to the CFI. The CFI then instructed the pilot to bring the helicopter to a hover. The pilot lifted the helicopter to a hover, and it began to rotate to the left. The CFI instructed the pilot to "add right pedal, add right pedal", but the helicopter continued to rotate to the left. The CFI attempted to apply pressure on the right pedal, but the pilot "panicked and froze" on the flight controls. The CFI stated that he yelled to the pilot, "I have the controls", but the pilot did not respond. The CFI stated that he was unable to overcome the pilot's strength on the flight controls. The helicopter's tail rotor struck the ground, and the helicopter rolled over on its right side. The pilot and CFI did not report any mechanical or flight control anomalies with the helicopter. Examination of the helicopter revealed the tail boom separated from the fuselage and main rotor blades were destroyed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.