Event ATL83FA144

Factual narrative

THE ROTORCRAFT CRASHED IN A STEEPLY DESCENDING TURN SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM ABOUT 100 FEET AGL. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND DURING, THE ON-SITE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ABRUPT STEEP LEFT BANK AND GROUND IMPACT. THE PILOTS EXPERIENCE WAS LIMITED AS HE HAS ACQUIRED 26 HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN TWO AND ONE HALF YEARS. HIS LAST RECORDED FLIGHT WAS ALMOST 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE PILOT RECEIVING ANYDUAL INSTRUCTION IN HOVERING OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE LAST DUAL LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS DATED OCT. 17, 1981. THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED WAS 'LIMITED HOVERING, NO WIND, IN GROUND EFFECT ONLY'. ON THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FLYIN WINDY CONDITIONS, OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. WITNESSES SAID THE HELICOPTER WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY AND PRODUCED NO UNUSUAL NOISES. WITNESSES IN THE AREA OF THE ACCIDENT SITE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS WINDY AND ONE ESTIMATED THE WIND VELOCITY AS BETWEEN 8 AND 10 MPH. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12