Western International Avia UH 1H N247PV

Summary

On 13 October 2017 at about 17:15 local time, a Western International Avia UH 1H registered N247PV was involved in an accident near Arbuckle, California, United States. One person was 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

13 October 2017 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Arbuckle, California, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (N/A)

Coordinates

39.0519, -122.0906

Aircraft

Western International Avia UH 1H

Registration

N247PV

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1965

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arbuckle → Arbuckle

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA004

Nobody was injured.

A collective control malfunction for reasons that could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and mechanic reported that, before the accident, the mechanic had adjusted the helicopter’s main rotor track and balance. After the mechanic made the final adjustments, the pilot hovered the helicopter to a wash rack for cleaning. Subsequently, while the pilot was repositioning the helicopter to a nearby landing cart and just as the front portions of the skids were over the cart, the collective began to oscillate, followed by the skids striking the cart. The pilot attempted to land the helicopter as it continued to oscillate, but the right skid slid off the cart. The helicopter then rolled onto its right side and impacted the ground. The mechanic reported that all components prior to the accident were in good working order and that the track and balance adjustments had resulted in satisfactory monitoring equipment readings prior to the accident. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal evidence of any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the oscillations could not be determined based on the available information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.