N162MC – McCall Rotorway 162F – 2007-03-26 NTSB Accident Report

On March 26, 2007, a Mccall Rotorway 162F (N162MC) was involved in an incident near Malta, IL. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper use of the rotorcraft flight controls resulting in a dynamic rollover during takeoff. A factor was the soft ground that the left skid encountered.

The helicopter sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when it dynamically rolled over on takeoff following a precautionary landing, in a cornfield, in response to a warning light. The pilot reported, in reference to the takeoff, that the "right skid rose off the ground but the left skid made no attempt to raise and the helicopter abruptly rolled over onto the left skid and continued over until the rotor blades contacted the ground. ... The left skid had sunk into the ground further than it appeared." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter. The pilot's safety recommendation stated, "I could have made a ... more [thorough] check of ground conditions before attempting a takeoff."

This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI07CA094. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N162MC.