Brantly B-2B N2253U

Summary

On 29 August 2013 at about 20:43 local time, a Brantly B-2B registered N2253U, operated by Gregory S McCabe and Bruce L McCabe, was involved in an accident near Rothbury, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 August 2013 at 20:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Rothbury, Michigan, United States

Coordinates

43.5036, -86.3502

Aircraft

Brantly B-2B

Registration

N2253U

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Gregory S McCabe and Bruce L McCabe

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rothbury → Rothbury

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA546

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain helicopter control while turning to avoid trees during an aborted takeoff in gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he initiated a takeoff in light and variable wind conditions from the middle of a private field. During the takeoff, the pilot initiated a left pedal turn to abort the takeoff, likely in an attempt to avoid trees. During the left pedal turn, a wind gust forced the helicopter toward the ground. The helicopter subsequently impacted the ground hard at a near-level attitude on an uphill slope. The main rotor blade struck the ground, and the helicopter then rolled and came to rest on its left side. The open field was about 750 feet long (east to west) and 150 feet wide. The field was surrounded by about 30- to 40-foot-tall pine trees with larger growth on the west end. Performance charts from the helicopter's flight manual indicated that the helicopter should have had sufficient takeoff climb performance to clear the trees. Examination of the helicopter did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the flight controls or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the helicopter was operating normally before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.