Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK 117 N140SF

Summary

On 13 October 2017 at about 04:35 local time, a Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK 117 registered N140SF, operated by OSF Aviation LLC., was involved in an accident near Canton, Illinois, United States. 2 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

13 October 2017 at 04:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Canton, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Ingersoll (CTK)

Coordinates

40.5636, -90.0742

Aircraft

Eurocopter Deutschland MBB BK 117

Registration

N140SF

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2010

Engines

2

Operator

OSF Aviation LLC.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Peoria → Canton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

GAA18CA012

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor's incorrect cyclic control during a hover, which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter flight instructor reported that he was training a new company pilot at night, and they were using night vision goggles. He added that, while in a hover, he attempted to demonstrate the use of the controllable search light to the pilot in the right seat. The flight instructor added that, "to adjust the light, I took the [left] cyclic in my left hand which would normally be holding the left collective and attempted to reach the control switch for the light and grabbed the throttles of the right collective with my right hand. My right hand would normally be on the left cyclic." He further added that he then inadvertently pushed down on the collective, and the helicopter began to settle on the runway. He reported that in response "[his] reflex was to pull up with [his] left hand (which would normally be on the collective)," and when he did so the helicopter moved rearward. Subsequently, he "pushed the cyclic forward to correct" the rearward movement, but in doing so, the helicopter touched down hard, and the main rotor impacted the upper wire strike protection unit. The main rotor sustained substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.