N125AC

Substantial
None

Leza Lockwood Air CamS/N: 019

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NTSB Number
WPR10CA132
Location
Everett, WA
Event ID
20100210X10612
Coordinates
47.956943, -122.281387
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's inadvertent encounter with the rotor downwash from a hovering heavy-lift helicopter.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N125AC
Make
LEZA LOCKWOOD
Serial Number
019
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
Air CamACAM
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Registered Owner (Historical)

Status
Deregistered
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot taxied the ultralight airplane west between two rows of hangars up to the boundary of the non-movement area before stopping to contact ground control. At this time an Army Chinook helicopter made an approach to runway 34R before entering a hover over the runway in front of the pilot at an altitude estimated to be from 75 to 100 feet above ground level. As the helicopter descended to about 20 to 30 feet above ground level, the rotor wash from the helicopter picked the airplane up off the ground and blew it backwards and to the right. The airplane subsequently dropped to the ground on its right wingtip, coming to rest upright about 25 to 30 feet from where it was originally positioned.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA132