The helicopter pilot reported that during an early morning flight, the visibility was good, but it was still dark.
He said the Robinson R44 helicopter climbed to about 300′ above ground level and she noticed that her iPad was not showing her location. While attempting to fix the iPad, she inadvertently pushed the cyclic forward.
She reported that when she re-focused her attention outside the helicopter, impact was imminent, and the helicopter hit trees.
The helicopter came to rest on its left side facing the opposite direction of travel.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both rotor systems.
The pilot reported in the recommendation section of the National Transportation Board pilot aircraft accident report that the accident could have been prevented by not allowing herself to become distracted during flight.
The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The pilot’s distraction due to her malfunctioning iPad, which led to her inadvertent forward cyclic application.
NTSB Identification: GAA18CA140
This February 2018 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
What happened to Aviate, Navigate and communicate (in that order)?
She is an “alleged” pilot, nothing more !!!
Ok, I give,… what does an IPAD due?… Is it something you sit on?… rest your elbow on?… put under your head-set when you wear one? Are they used on airplanes also or just on choppers???
Apparently, it conveys critical information in flight…
You can use it to run app’s that serve as a Moving Map navigational aid just like all of the other glass cockpit displays. They use GPS derived position to show present position as well as flight plan routes, even weather and obstacles. They are actually getting to be popular with pilots, especially in certified aircraft, as they allow a fully functional navigation display with out all of the costs and complexities that come with installed systems. In this case the pilot was apparently using one to show position and maybe intended route of flight so when it did not provide the expected information it became a distraction. Maybe it would have been better to just land and work it out rather than let it become a distraction at such low altitude.
The iPad and the panel are the same in regard to not having head outside the cockpit. Both can distract and both can and do convey critical information during flight.