Sikorsky S-55B N855TC

Summary

On 25 July 2011 at about 18:45 local time, a Sikorsky S-55B registered N855TC, operated by Golden Wings, was involved in an accident near Brewster, Washington, 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

25 July 2011 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Brewster, Washington, United States

Coordinates

48.1186, -119.7708

Aircraft

Sikorsky S-55B

Registration

N855TC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Golden Wings

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brewster → Brewster

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA356

Nobody was injured.

The pilot did not maintain main rotor rpm while hovering in gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The helicopter pilot was conducting a low-level flight over orchards for the purpose of drying cherry trees. The orchard was bordered by a series of power lines, and a gusting, variable wind was present at the time of the flight. During a low hovering pass over the orchard, a gust of wind pushed the helicopter toward power lines. In an attempt to avoid the power lines, the pilot increased collective pitch, and the helicopter began to climb. During the climb, the main rotor rpm decayed and the nose of the helicopter yawed to the right. The pilot lowered the collective and increased the engine power in an effort to regain main rotor rpm; however, the helicopter descended into the orchard. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operations, and that the accident could have been prevented if the flight had been conducted after the wind diminished.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.