On October 17, 2000, a Robinson R-22 BETA (registration N621DM) was involved in an aviation accident near Dellwood, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff due to the right skid becoming entangled in vines, which resulted in dynamic rollover and substantial damage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter suffered substantial damage after its right skid became entangled in vines during takeoff, triggering a dynamic rollover event with no reported injuries.
What happened
The accident occurred while the pilot was attempting to initiate takeoff from an unimproved field. During the acceleration phase, the helicopter's right skid became entangled in surrounding vegetation, specifically vines. This entanglement induced a dynamic rollover condition. The aircraft rolled onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
The investigation
Post-acc examination revealed that the primary cause of the incident was the mechanical interaction between the landing gear and the environment. There were no indications of pre-existing mechanical failures or malfunctions within the helicopter's systems prior to the event. The pilot confirmed that the aircraft was operating normally before the vegetation entanglement occurred.
Findings
The investigation highlighted several critical factors contributing to the accident:
Dynamic rollover initiated by the right skid becoming entangled in vines during the takeoff roll.
Substantial damage to the helicopter resulting from the rollover onto its right side.
Absence of any mechanical failure or malfunction in the aircraft systems prior to the incident.
The pilot's statement indicated that the vegetation entanglement was the sole initiating event, with no other contributing mechanical factors identified during the examination.
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during takeoff due to the right skid becoming entangled in vines, which resulted in dynamic rollover and substantial damage.