Brantly B-2B N2180U

Summary

On 20 November 2008 at about 19:30 local time, a Brantly B-2B registered N2180U, operated by Inverted U S, was involved in an accident near Cedar Hill, Texas, 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

20 November 2008 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cedar Hill, Texas, United States

Coordinates

32.5500, -96.9667

Aircraft

Brantly B-2B

Registration

N2180U

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Inverted U S

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cedar Hill → Cedar Hill

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA068

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper decision to takeoff downwind. A contributing factor was the gusty conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The non-helicopter-rated pilot and passenger departed downwind for a local flight. Once above the surrounding obstacles, the helicopter began to settle. Unable to arrest the rate of decent, the pilot elected to land in an empty industrial park lot. The helicopter experienced a hard landing and rolled on to its side. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the helicopter unassisted. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he would have observed the wind condition from an obstacle free area before departure. A weather reporting station 14 miles east of the accident site reported, wind from 360 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 23 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.