Cave Creek, USA
Helicopter Accident, 2010
Cave Creek, USA
On 14th February 2010, an EC135 lost control and impacted terrain near Cave Creek, Arizona, USA. Based on radar data information, the helicopter flew at about 2000 feet above ground level. Several witnesses on ground stated that they heard popping / banging noises and saw parts separate from the helicopter. The helicopter impacted a river wash after it circled and dropped vertically.
The iwi® methodology was applied to reconstruct the missing flight path between last radar recording and impact location using five witness statements.
The NTSB determined the cause of the accident as: “The sudden and inadvertent lowering of the collective to near the lower stop, followed by a simultaneous movement of the collective back up and the cyclic control to a nearly full-aft position, which resulted in the main rotor disc diverging from its normal plane of rotation and striking the tail rotor drive shaft and culminated in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was absence of proper cockpit discipline from the pilot.”
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75360
The iwi® methodology was applied to reconstruct the missing flight path between last radar recording and impact location using five witness statements.
The NTSB determined the cause of the accident as: “The sudden and inadvertent lowering of the collective to near the lower stop, followed by a simultaneous movement of the collective back up and the cyclic control to a nearly full-aft position, which resulted in the main rotor disc diverging from its normal plane of rotation and striking the tail rotor drive shaft and culminated in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was absence of proper cockpit discipline from the pilot.”
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75360
| Report iwi Cave Creek |