The pilot of the Arion Lightning light-sport airplane reported that he was flying to an uncontrolled airport near Indiana, Pennsylvania, to attend an air show later during the day.
The airport was busy with several airplanes in the traffic pattern and a flight of three north of the airport.
The pilot entered the traffic pattern by overflying the airport and crossing midfield onto a left downwind leg.
At that point, a life flight helicopter reported 2.5 miles southwest. The pilot heard another report from the helicopter and asked him where he was. The helicopter pilot stated that he was on the right base leg for Runway 11 and number two to land.
The LSA pilot announced turning to final for Runway 11.
He was over the threshold at 20 feet above ground level when he saw the helicopter cross the runway several hundred feet ahead of him. The airplane then encountered the rotor wash, rolled right inverted, and hit the runway.
The pilot was seriously injured in the crash.
The helicopter pilot reported that he departed his home base about 2.5 miles from the airport to attend an air show public relations event at the airport. He entered a right base leg for Runway 11 and stated intentions to land No. 2 as there were four airplanes in the traffic pattern and airplane No. 3 (the accident airplane) was turning from left downwind to left base.
The helicopter approached the runway numbers, sidestepped north to taxiway A1, and landed at a predesignated position on the taxiway for the air show.
After shutting down, the pilot was told by ground personnel that the airplane following him was involved in an accident.
Probable Cause: The airplane pilot’s inadvertent encounter with rotor wash/turbulence during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of control in flight.
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This July 2022 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.
Full power and hard left rudder and york. But it seem hard to recover from such attitude so sad. Did the helicopter pilot respond aftermath ?
There was a FAA Safety Notice on helicopter rotor turbulence in Dec. 2023;
https://www.faasafety.gov/spans/noticeView.aspx?nid=13334
see the link to the video.
There is severe turbulence within 3 rotor diameters.
Helicopters should never fly over a runway or taxiway at low altitude.
Most helicopters that I encounter at my home airport fly lower than the pattern altitude on departure and arrival, so they don’t affect other traffic.
The FAA stresses heavily about taking off and landing after heavies wake turbulence but doesn’t mention helicopter downwash. I had a friendly helicopter practice a flyover hover over the length of the runway while I was doing touch and goes.I finally asked them to stop and said I was concerned about the down wash wake turbulence and another pilot made fun of it.He should watch the YouTube video of the light plane flipped over from a wake turbulence. Be aware.
I agree with You, Mr. James Brian Potter.
Not nearly enough education on rotor wash.
Huh? “He was over the threshold at 20 feet above ground level…” What was he supposed to do at that point? Has nothing to do with education about prop wash and everything to do with the aircraft mix and too-close proximity airplanes-to-chopper during those approaches.
Regards/J