Brantly B-2B accident near Weaverville, CA
On May 27, 2011, a Brantly B-2B (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Weaverville, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 27, 2011
- Place
- Weaverville, CA
- Aircraft
- Brantly B-2B · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.701°N, 122.954°W
- NTSB ID
- 20110528X94407
Official records · WPR11FA239
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 27, 2011, about 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Brantly B-2B, N222DW, collided with wooded terrain near Weaverville, California. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a solo instructional flight. The student pilot was fatally injured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Hayfork Airport (F62), Hayfork, California, about 1330, with a planned destination of Lonnie Pool Field/Weaverville Airport (O54), Weaverville, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A friend of the pilot arrived at Hayfork Airport about 1320. He noticed that the pilot had just begun to start the helicopter. He called the pilot on the radio and asked his destination, how much fuel he had onboard, and if he would like a photo taken. The pilot responded that he had 22 gallons of fuel, was going to Weaverville, and that he would like a photograph. He then lifted the helicopter into a hover, and the friend took a photograph. The helicopter then departed to the east. The friend became concerned after the helicopter did not return later in the afternoon. He reported the missing helicopter to the local sheriff's department, and an Alert Notice (ALNOT) was issued about 1600. The helicopter was not equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). Search and rescue teams utilized the pilot's cell phone signal to perform network-based location analysis, and the helicopter was subsequently located about 1600 on the following
Probable cause
The student pilot's decision to fly in windy conditions that exceeded his capabilities, which resulted in his subsequent loss of helicopter control. Contributing to the accident was his lack of flight experience in the accident helicopter.
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Browse: California · Brantly aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
