History of Flight
On July 24, 2020, at about 1316 eastern daylight time, a Brantly B2B helicopter, registration N383ES, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Monrovia, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 maintenance test flight.
A witness stated that the pilot was performing a maintenance test flight after a 100-hour interval and annual inspection was completed. The pilot completed three or four short flights around the pilot's property before taking off and traveling southerly at an altitude of about 20 ft above ground level. The pilot’s wife stated that it sounded like the helicopter was “missing.” A witness reported that it looked like the helicopter was exiting effective translational lift when the helicopter dipped, turned right abruptly, and hit the ground. A post-crash fire started immediately, and the wreckage was destroyed.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire. The landing gear skids were separated from the fuselage. The main rotor assembly and tail rotor assembly were separated from the fuselage and tailboom, both of which were resting along the wreckage path. The tailboom, with the tail rotor driveshaft, was attached to the fuselage.
A postaccident examination of the engine cylinders using a borescope showed no anomalies. Continuity of the engine valve and drive train to the accessory section was confirmed. The accessories could not undergo functional testing due to post-crash fire and impact damage. Examination of the flight control system confirmed flight control continuity.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot initially survived and was transported to a hospital for specialized burn/trauma care. No significant pre-existing natural disease was documented. An early hospital blood test for ethanol was negative. The pilot succumbed to his injuries on the day of the accident.
The Marion County Coroner's Office performed the pilot’s autopsy, which was limited to an external examination only. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was thermal burn injuries, and the manner of death was accident.
Toxicological testing detected the medications amlodipine and atorvastatin in the pilot’s blood. Those medications generally are not considered impairing. Also detected in blood were morphine, ketamine, norketamine, and etomidate, all of which were attributable to medications administered to the pilot during his initial medical care after the accident.