Agusta A109E N142CF

Summary

On 19 January 2006 at about 21:15 local time, a Agusta A109E registered N142CF was involved in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas, 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

19 January 2006 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Worth, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Ft Worth International Airport (KFTW)

Coordinates

32.8186, -97.3572

Aircraft

Agusta A109E

Registration

N142CF

Category

Helicopter

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Worth → Grand Prairie

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06LA057

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with ground resonance which resulted in the destruction of the helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 6,500-hour commercial helicopter rated pilot inadvertently encountered ground resonance while ground taxiing. The pilot performed a normal startup and prepared for ground taxi. He moved the helicopter forward and then started the helicopter in a 90-degree ground taxi turn at 30-degree intervals. He pushed on the toe brakes to stop the helicopter to give right of way to an aircraft taxiing down the taxiway. At this time the helicopter started to shake and bounce. Before the pilot could get the aircraft shutdown, the aircraft executed an uncommanded 90-degree turn to the left. The helicopter's main rotors and transmission assembly separated from the airframe. The wind at the time of the accident was reported to be from 170 degrees at 17 knots, gusting to 23 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.