Brantly B-2B accident near Cedar Hill, Texas, November 20, 2008
On November 20, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Brantly B-2B (helicopter), registered N2180U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Cedar Hill, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to takeoff downwind. A contributing factor was the gusty conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cedar Hill, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly B-2B · all B-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2180U · no longer on the register · serial 342
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-helicopter-rated pilot and passenger departed downwind for a local flight. Once above the surrounding obstacles, the helicopter began to settle. Unable to arrest the rate of decent, the pilot elected to land in an empty industrial park lot. The helicopter experienced a hard landing and rolled on to its side. The pilot and passenger were able to exit the helicopter unassisted. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented if he would have observed the wind condition from an obstacle free area before departure. A weather reporting station 14 miles east of the accident site reported, wind from 360 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 23 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Settling with power/vortex ring state during initial climb
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Roll over during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 27, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cedar Hill TX at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Cedar Hill TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 8:34 pm from LNC, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.