Diamond DA20-C1 N959DA

Summary

On 29 January 2014 at about 21:32 local time, a Diamond DA20-C1 registered N959DA, operated by Doss Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Fort Carson, Colorado, 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 January 2014 at 21:32

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Carson, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Butts Army Airfield (KFCS)

Coordinates

38.6786, -104.7550

Aircraft

Diamond DA20-C1

Registration

N959DA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Doss Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Carson → Pueblo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14TA126

2 people had minor injuries.

The flight instructor's loss of control after takeoff following a wake turbulence encounter from a preceding helicopter. Contributing to the accident were the flight instructor's misidentification of the helicopter type and a lack of Federal Aviation Administration wake turbulence separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on 1/22/2015. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** According to air traffic control (ATC) audio recordings, a tower controller cleared an airplane for takeoff about 23 seconds after a UH-60 helicopter was cleared for takeoff from a midfield location. The tower controller ensured that a runway separation standard of 3,000 feet was present and did not give a wake turbulence advisory. The flight instructor reported that she was aware of the helicopter's takeoff and that she perceived adequate separation from the helicopter. The flight instructor incorrectly identified the helicopter as a Bell UH-1, which weighs less than the UH-60. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered the wake vortex of the helicopter and entered a steep left bank. The flight instructor attempted to counteract the left roll with full right aileron inputs, but she was unable to maintain control. The airplane impacted terrain near midfield and came to rest inverted. A review of ATC audio recordings and airplane performance data revealed that the airplane trailed the helicopter by about 48 to 63 seconds at the midfield location and was about 150 to 200 feet above ground level when it encountered the helicopter's wake vortex. Current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ATC guidance does not require specific wake turbulence separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter nor does it require a controller to give a wake turbulence advisory for a small airplane following a helicopter. Current FAA pilot guidance, including the Airman's Information Manual and an advisory circular on aircraft wake turbulence, also do not recommend separation criteria for a small airplane following a helicopter.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.