History of Flight
On November 14, 2010, at approximately 1545 central standard time, a Brantly B-2B helicopter, registration N2268U, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during a takeoff attempt from Beach Ranch Airport (2TE7) in Post, Texas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was local and originating at the time of the accident.
In a telephone interview, the passenger stated that the pilot was flying the helicopter to demonstrate its flight condition. The passenger, who had previous experience with Brantly helicopters but had not flown one recently, intended to remain a passenger throughout the flight. He reported that the helicopter did not pass through effective translational lift (ETL) at the expected airspeed. The helicopter continued along the ground, increasing ground speed but not climbing. He noted that the engine sounded normal.
An eyewitness stated that the owner occupied the right seat and the passenger sat in the left seat. The helicopter performed a rolling takeoff and reached only a few feet of elevation before it "twisted" and pitched slightly downward. The toes of the skids began scraping the ground as the helicopter moved forward. It traveled past the takeoff area into tall grass, then pitched sharply over, as if the skids had struck an obstacle. The helicopter hit the ground nose-first and rolled over. The witness described the winds as "light from the southwest."
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 66, held an airline transport pilot certificate for airplane multi-engine land and commercial pilot certificates for airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, helicopter, and glider. His second-class medical certificate, issued July 22, 2008, required glasses for near and intermediate vision. He reported 35,620 total flight hours, with 50 hours logged in the previous six months. Based on tachometer readings, it is estimated that the pilot had logged at least 43.5 hours in Brantly helicopters.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat helicopter, serial number 430, was manufactured in 1964. It was powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming IVO-360-A1A engine, serial number L-168-58. Maintenance records indicated an annual inspection completed on July 29, 2010, at a tachometer time of 1,637.5 hours.
Meteorological Information
At 1546, an automated weather station at Winston Field Airport (SNK) in Snyder, Texas, located 33 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 16 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 67°F, dew point 32°F, and barometric pressure 29.86 inches of mercury. Three amateur weather reporting sites within 15 miles of the accident site reported winds from the southwest at approximately 8 mph, gusting to 11 mph.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The helicopter departed from a helipad at the airfield and followed runway 11, a 2,600-foot by 50-foot turf/dirt strip. The wreckage came to rest north of the runway in low-lying vegetation. An examination by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors found no anomalies. They collected 14 gallons of fuel from the tank. Fuel was also found under the helicopter; it is unknown how much fuel drained before the helicopter was righted.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy was performed on the pilot on November 16, 2010, by the Office of the South Plains Forensic Pathology in Lubbock, Texas, as authorized by the Justice of the Peace of Garza County. Forensic toxicology, conducted by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, detected no carbon monoxide, cyanide, or ethanol. Quinine was detected in both urine and blood specimens.
Additional Information
The helicopter was certificated for a maximum takeoff gross weight of 1,670 pounds with an associated center of gravity range of +104.3 to +107 inches. Using the most recent weight and balance record, which accounted for the weight of the pilots, 14 gallons of fuel, engine oil, a recently installed GPS unit, and pilot equipment, the estimated weight was at least 1,674 pounds, with a center of gravity of 103.1 inches.