Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO_105S N160TH

Summary

On 30 June 2022 at about 10:42 local time, a Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO_105S registered N160TH, operated by Southern Utah University, was involved in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, 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

30 June 2022 at 10:42

Classification

Accident

Location

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Spruce Creek Airport (7FL6)

Coordinates

29.0800, -81.0458

Aircraft

Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Blohm BO_105S

Registration

N160TH

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1982

Engines

2

Operator

Southern Utah University

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → St. Jsoeph

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA342

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s rapid reduction of collective following an in-flight loss of control while lifting from a dolly resulting in a hard landing. Contributing to the loss of control was the pilot’s likely inadequate left anti-torque control pedal input during initial liftoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated there were no discrepancies of the anti-torque pedals noted during his check of them as part of the startup checklist or after starting the engines. After lifting off from a dolly while operating about 150 pounds below gross weight, he reported “suddenly and without notice” a “pop” in the pedals. The helicopter began yawing to the right, which he attempted to correct with left anti-torque pedal input but did not recall if the pedal moved. The helicopter yawed about 180° clockwise and impacted a parked golf cart which stopped the yaw. He then lowered the collective which resulted in the helicopter landing partially on the dolly. He then raised collective and lifted from the dolly but after getting airborne the helicopter yawed left which he attempted to correct with right anti-torque pedal input. After clearing the dolly, he lowered collective and the helicopter impacted hard on the ramp resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The pilot indicated on the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident report there was no mechanical malfunction or failure. Postaccident examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector with the accident pilot present revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the anti-torque flight controls. While binding was noted in the anti-torque flight controls during postaccident examination, that was attributed to be from impingement of a displaced skid cross tube into a bellcrank of anti-torque control system. The lack of any malfunction of the anti-torque flight controls was further supported by the pilot and witness accounts, as well as recorded video that depicted the helicopter yawing to the left in response to pilot left pedal input following right yaw.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.