Accident Brantly Helicopter B-2B N2273U, Sunday 12 February 1984

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Date:	Sunday 12 February 1984
Time:	13:30 LT
Type:	Brantly Helicopter B-2B
Owner/operator:	Edward Younkin
Registration:	N2273U
MSN:	43A
Total airframe hrs:	742 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IVO-360-A1A
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mt. Pleasant, PA - United States of America
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Connellsville, PA (2G3
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT FLEW TO GREENSBURG, WHERE HE BROUGHT THE HELICOPTER TO A 2 FT HOVER AND DEPARTED WITH A MAX PERFORMANCE CLIMB. HE STATED THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO EXHIBIT CONTROL IRREGULARITIES WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS 'A DUTCH ROLL WOBBLE TYPE OF SHUFFLE.' HE CONTINUED THE FLT & SAID THE 'SHUFFLE' SUBSIDED AS PWR WAS REDUCED DURING APCH TO MT PLEASANT. HOWEVER, HE EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS DURING THE APCH WHICH WERE PROPORTIONAL TO CHANGES IN COLLECTIVE & THROTTLE APPLICATIONS. INITIALLY, HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WIND. THE PLT INCREASED THROTTLE, COLLECTIVE, RTPEDAL & BEGAN A CLIMB. THEN AS A PRECAUTION, HE CUT THE THROTTLE TO STOP AN INCREASING VIBRATION & KEEP THE ENG FROM OVERREVVING. COLLECTIVE WAS REDUCED TO MAINTAIN ROTOR RPM, THEN WAS INCREASED ON DESCENT THRU 20 FT AGL, BUT THE ACFT LANDED HARD, COLLAPSING A SKID. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, IT HAD INSUFFICIENT PWR & MADE A 360 DEG ROTATION BEFORE IMPACT.TWO MAIN ROTOR BLADES SEPARATED AND WERE FOUND WITHIN PROXIMITY OF THE HELICOPTER WITH IMPACT DAMAGE.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: