Overview
A helicopter, which had recently been painted, lost control during takeoff when tie-down chains left attached to the landing gear caused the aircraft to roll over. The incident occurred after the helicopter was moved by paint shop personnel to an airplane parking spot, where the skids were positioned straddling the tie-down chains.
Tie-Down Chain Attachment
Two wing tie-down chains were incorrectly attached to the right landing gear skid. The chains were not under tension initially. A witness who inspected the helicopter's new paint before the pilot and passenger arrived stated that he did not notice any tie-down chains on the aircraft. The pilot also failed to notice the chains during the preflight check and did not remove them.
Sequence of Events
As the helicopter lifted into a hover, the slack in the chains was taken up. With the right skid tube tethered by the chains, the helicopter rolled to the right, causing the main rotor blades to strike the ground.
Advisory Circular Reference
Advisory Circular AC 20-35C provides guidance on tie-down procedures, stating: "Fasten the tie-down ropes to the fuselage mooring points and extend them to the ground mooring anchors." In this case, the chains were attached to the landing gear skid rather than fuselage mooring points.
Contributing Visual Factors
The tie-down chains were dark brown in color and did not clearly contrast with the asphalt surface, which may have reduced their visibility during the preflight inspection.