Brantly B-2B accident near Camas, Washington, November 17, 2008
On November 17, 2008 at about 7:28 pm local time, a Brantly B-2B (helicopter), registered N2274U, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Camas, Washington (Grove Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude and airspeed, which precluded making a safe autorotation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 2008 · about 7:28 pm local time
- Place
- Camas, Washington · Grove Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Brantly B-2B · all B-2Bs on the register
- Registration
- N2274U · no longer on the register · serial 439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner/student and certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that they made one successful trip around the landing pattern, and landed. The second takeoff was progressing with the engine revolutions per minute (rpm) and manifold pressure in the high normal range. The CFI stated that about 30 to 50 feet above ground level (agl) at 45 to 50 miles per hour (mph), the engine just stopped. It did not sputter, skip, or give any indications that there was a problem. The CFI took the controls, and steered the helicopter to a grassy area on the left side of the runway. He kept it upright, and touched down hard on the skids first. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of catastrophic engine failure, or any other reason for the loss of power. Review of a video of the accident indicated that the helicopter maintained an almost level attitude throughout the descent. It descended at a constant attitude with no apparent flare/deceleration. A factory pilot for the manufacturer reported that in order to make a safe autorotation, the air speed must be above 40 miles per hour, the rotor rpm must be in the green, and a deceleration must occur in the last 25 to 35 feet that will allow using airspeed to slow the rate of descent. The factory pilot stated that the helicopter was probably outside of the parameters for a successful autorotation and he did not think that the instructor had enough time and altitude to make a safe autorotation.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Autorotation Attempted remediation/recovery
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 339 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IVO-360-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1W1 Camas WA at 7:10 pm
- Destination: 1W1 Camas WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 2,710 ft by 40 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PDX, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N2274U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.