Helicopter + Trailer = Trouble (Sometimes)

[gyropilot]

Just noticed this on the FAA Office of Accident and Incident Investigation web site:

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 97AZ Make/Model: B206 Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
Date: 04/24/2004 Time: 0410

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
City: MESA State: AZ Country: US

DESCRIPTION
A BELL 206 HELICOPTER, WHILE HOVERING AS IT WAS TO BE LOADED ON A TRAILER,
HOOKED THE SKID ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRAILER CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO
FLIP OVER AND CRASH, THE SINGLE PERSON ON BOARD WAS FATALLY INJURED, FALCON
FIELD, MESA, AZ

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: FFFZ 0252Z WIND050/08 VSBY40 FEW150 SCT250 TEMP36C DWPT04C ALT2985

OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase: Hover Operation: General Aviation

Departed: UNK Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: UNK Flt Plan: UNK Wx Briefing: U
Last Radio Cont: UNK
Last Clearance: UNK

FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 06/25/2004

This got me to wondering how often things go wrong when trying to land or ldepart directly from a trailer in a helicopter. A quick search of the NTSB web site with the keywork "trailer" found these:

NTSB Identification: FTW03CA233 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20031204X01993&key=1)

NTSB Identification: FTW03LA166 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20030606X00807&key=1)

NTSB Identification: FTW02LA268 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20021003X05261&key=1)

NTSB Identification: MIA02TA081 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20020412X00502&key=1)

NTSB Identification: FTW02LA080 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20020214X00219&key=1)

NTSB Identification: MIA01LA153 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20010613X01171&key=1)

NTSB Identification: NYC01LA043 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X22333&key=1)

NTSB Identification: ATL00LA086 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X21904&key=1)

NTSB Identification: MIA99LA217 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19587&key=1)

NTSB Identification: MIA99LA200 (http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X19317&key=1)

[Friendly]

If you type in Navy Seals and go to their web sight, there are two different videos of Helo's hanging up. One was landing on a carrier and it was gone when it hit the water.

[bpearson]

Ok. If I still flew a Cricket I would like to fit a H/S. In my country however I could die of old age waiting for clearance from the CAA. I still would fly in the meantime. I suppose it is degrees of risk we are talking about. I would not fly RAF's or A/Commands pre mod. I do think that the machine in question is, if flown well within it's limits is safe. R22's are not as stable as other helicopters but are still flown. Fantastic forum you have..... hope you don't mind us Brits going on.
Brian

[Chuck Roberg]

Same thing happened at our airport. This is (was) the local traffic copter. Caught a skid on the side of the wheeled platform. End result of what dynamic rollover does.

[Chuck Roberg]

Another view.

Photos courtesy of our local airport reporter Tom Milton. :)

[bartc150]

A local sheriffs dept was unloading their chopper from the trailer when it suddenly piched up striking the tail, then it rolled on its side with full rpm. The pilot said it was mechanical failure. Upon viewing the surveilance cameras in place around the airport you could see the tail still tied down to the trailer, but of course this never was told to the media.

[scott heger]

I find landing a helio on trailers in wind, one of the most difficult piloting skills I do. Most trailers have about 1-2 foot front to rear extra, and 8 inches on each side. Not alot of room for error. Even a passenger shifting their weight around watching is enough to get the heliocopter off center. I have a self imposed rule, if I don't get it right by the 3rd attempt, skip the trailer and land on flat ground. Beats having the copter look like one above just to prove a point it can be done.

Scott Heger, Laguna Niguel, Ca SportCopter N86SH

[Lasse]

Landing a helicopter on a trailer takes a lot of skill.From the inside of the aircraft one easaly gets a false impression in what angle the skids are pointing.Do a lot of practising, lining up parallel to an object on flat ground, before You even try with the trailer.If installed, outside rear view mirrors will be of great help.

[Aussie_Paul]

A few years ago we had an ex Vietnam Vet drive the local TV station Bell 206. He was a delight to watch landing on the trailer, but then he had the best of training. I still loved to watch him though.

Aussie Paul. :)

[animal]

Same thing happened at our airport. This is (was) the local traffic copter. Caught a skid on the side of the wheeled platform. End result of what dynamic rollover does.

Note to self...Self,when the scorpion is ready to fly,use ramps to unload helicopter and then fly...