N2128U

On March 5, 2002, about 1700 eastern standard time, a Brantly Helicopter B-2, N2128U, was substantially damaged while hovering at a private helipad near Grove City, Ohio. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the maintenance test flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he had just completed routine maintenance on the helicopter, and decided to perform a maintenance test flight. The helicopter was rolled out from the hangar on a portable landing pad, and the pilot started the engine. As the helicopter lifted off of the portable landing pad, a gust of wind began to push the helicopter backwards towards the hangar. The pilot raised the collective and the helicopter rose above the hangar; however, it continued in a rearward direction until the main rotor blades struck a tree. The pilot "rolled off" the power, and the helicopter began to descend to the ground. During the decent, the landing skid caught a vine, which rolled the helicopter inverted before it impacted the ground.

The pilot reported 300 hours of total flight experience in helicopters, of which 10 hours were in the same make and model as the accident helicopter.

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any.

The wind reported at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, were from 220 degrees at 10 knots.