N888ZWSchweizer 269C · 1990

On July 3, 2013, about 1648 eastern daylight time, a Schweizer 269C, N888ZW, registered to and operated by Point of View Helicopter Services, LLC, collided with terrain near Burnham, Maine. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 91 aerial observation bear spotting flight that originated about 1544 from the Waterville Robert LaFleur Airport (WVL), Waterville, Maine. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot sustained serious injuries while the passenger sustained minor injuries.The pilot reported that earlier that day he flew the helicopter uneventfully from Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport (LEW), Auburn/Lewiston, Maine, to WVL. After landing at KWVL, he disengaged the main rotor but with the engine running fueled the helicopter filling both fuel tanks; he added 13.5 gallons. He did not check the fuel tanks or fuel strainer for contamination, reporting that there was not adequate time for possible contaminants to settle and that he had drained the fuel prior to take off from KLEW. He further reported that he had previously fueled at KWVL and had not had a problem with the fuel from that airport.

Before takeoff from KWVL, the pilot set up the passenger's gear, gave her a safety briefing, and informed her of the operational aspects of the helicopter which included explaining engine instruments and controls. He recalled showing her the needle split, but does not recall doing a check of the magnetos since the engine had been continuously running. The weather in the area included calm wind and high overcast clouds. He departed for a black bear tracking flight, and proceeded to the study area northeast of KWVL. While en-route to the study area, and flying up the Sebasticook River as far as Benton Falls Dam, he showed the passenger a number of bald eagles and eagle nests he regularly monitors in conjunction with the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and then began tracking the bears.

They first started high between 1,000 and 2,000 feet performing a grid search until receiving radio collar signals, then when homing in on bears, began descending (they were using 2 different antennas). While flying about 50 feet above the tops of trees at an airspeed between 10 and 20 knots, with a wind "fairly calm", or no more than1 to 3 knots, with the engine instruments reading normal, he began a "fading right turn" (a right turn with a sideways component of flight leading into it) with a "modicum" of left anti-torque pedal input while slowing.

He reported that perhaps 2 seconds from initiation of the right turn (with the helicopter approximately 30-40 feet above the trees), the turn escalated in the same direction into a spin (despite left pedal) about the main rotor axis consistent with sudden loss of tail rotor authority. As the out of control spin began and helicopter descended, his passenger asked "what's going on?" to which he replied "I don't know" before pulling up on the collective to ease their imminent contact with the trees (approximately 40 feet in height). Because the flight was so low he could not lower collective (increasing his rate of descent), apply forward cyclic and accelerate out of any possible disturbed air. He does not know how many turns were completed but the helicopter was in the trees within about 2 seconds of the time from spin initiation, or the time it took for his passenger to ask her question and for his response.

He blacked out upon entering the trees, and believes he was unconscious for 40 minutes; the passenger helped him from the helicopter then helped stabilize him. Their phone/radio communications were inoperative, and at his instruction the passenger got the survival bag out of the helicopter. The next time reference he had by his watch was the passenger leaving to get help about 1800. She walked to get help flagging down a passing motorist. He estimated it was 45 minutes to 1 hour before 1st responders arrived. He was placed on a litter and walked out of the site, and was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The passenger reported that while flying straight but descending over trees using audio equipment to track a bear equipped with a radio transmitter, she heard a sound from the helicopter unlike she had heard since takeoff. The helicopter began turning counterclockwise (contrary to the pilot statement of turning clockwise), and she asked the pilot what had occurred and he said he did not know. The helicopter descended through trees and impacted the ground. After a period of time she came to and was aware of her location. She noticed fuel leaking and heard a buzzing sound and helped the pilot out and away from the helicopter. She then walked to a road and summoned the assistance of a passing motorist.

Following recovery of the helicopter, inspection of the airframe and engine by representatives of the airframe and engine manufacturer was performed with oversight from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI). The examination of the airframe, flight controls, and drive system components revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Inspection of the fuel strainer which contained fuel revealed no evidence of contamination. The on-board Electronics International MUX-8A was retained and sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for read-out. A copy of the report from the airframe manufacturer representative and FAA concurring statement are contained in the NTSB public docket.

Inspection of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The magnetos, servo fuel injector, fuel injector nozzles and lines were removed and operationally tested at a FAA certified repair stations with no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. A copy of the statement from the FAA inspector-in-charge concerning the engine examination, and the NTSB engine accessories report are contained in the NTSB public docket.

According to the NTSB Recording Device Specialist's Factual Report, the MUX-8A was downloaded and found to have recorded and retained data in 1 minute increments consisting of 157 data points associated with the accident flight. The recorded data points included date, time (device calculated), cylinder head temperature (CHT), and exhaust gas temperature (EGT). The downloaded data indicates that after the estimated takeoff time, the EGT's remained above 1,350 for the remainder of the recording, and the CHT values fluctuate between about 290 and 330 degrees Fahrenheit until about 1632, then begin to increase until the end of the recording. A copy of the NTSB Recording Device Report and downloaded data is contained in the NTSB public docket.

FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 90-95 titled Unanticipated Right Yaw in Helicopters, indicates in part that unanticipated right yaw, or loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) is a critical, low speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an uncommanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in loss of aircraft control. The AC also indicates that there is greater susceptibility for LTE in right turns, which is especially true during flight at low airspeed since the pilot may not be able to stop the rotation, which will be a yaw to the right. The AC indicates that the recommended recovery technique is to apply full left pedal and simultaneously move the cyclic full forward to increase speed, and if altitude permits, reduce power.