# Incident 19960627021729I: Amtr MINI500, Excelsior Sprin, MO, June 27, 1996

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 1996, 09:30 local time
- Place: Excelsior Sprin, MO
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.3399° N, 94.2410° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Excelsior Springs, MO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3399&lon=-94.2410&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500ZZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N500ZZ-2013-09-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fetters Dennis L MINI 500 (registry code 13015HW, https://openairdocs.org/model/fetters-dennis-l-mini-500) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR MINI500
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960627021729I

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

1. ON 06/27/96 AT 1430Z TIME, A VIBRATION SPECTRUM ANALYSIS WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL MINI-500 HELICOPTER AIRCRAFT (N500ZZ) LOCATED IN A VACANT LOT IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING OF THE MANUFACTURE (REVOLUTION HELICOPTER CORPORATION, INC., IN EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO) OF THIS AMATEUR BUILT KIT HELICOPTER. 2. THE ANALYSIS WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO PERFORM DYNAMIC ROTOR ADJUSTMENT MAINTENANCE. CABLES WERE ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT'S ACCELEROMETER FOR PICK-UP OF VIBRATION AND THE RPM VIBRATION SPECTRUM ANALYSIS UNIT HELD BY A GROUND CREW TECHNICIAN (BRIAN THOMAS). THE AIRCRAFT WAS HOVERING APPROXIMATELY FIVE FEET ABOVE THE GROUND FOR THIS MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS OPERATION WITH NO DEPARTURE INTENDED. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS OF OBTAINING FIVE FEET ABOVE GROUND, THE PILOT FELT A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED VIBRATION ("THUD") FROM THE HELICOPTER AND QUICKLY LOST ALTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR SKID COLLAPSING AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGES OF THE MAIN ROTOR SPARS. NEITHER THE PILOT NOR THE GROUND CREW WERE INJURED. 3. ON EXAMINATION, REVOLUTION HELICOPTER CORPORATION, INC., DID NOT FIND ANY MECHANICAL DEFECTS THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INCIDENT. THE SUSPECTED CAUSE IS THE MALFUNCTIONING (LOSS OF POWER) OF THE BOMADIER ROTAX 582 ENGINE. 4. THIS ROTAX 582 ENGINE WAS SENT TO LEADING EDGE AIR FOILS (AN APPROVED BOMADIER SERVICE CENTER) IN PEYTON, COLORADO FOR ANALYSIS. REVOLUTION HELICOPTER CORPORATION, INC., WILL SUBMIT A COPY OF THIS (LEADING EDGE AIR FOILS) ENGINE ANALYSIS REPORT TO THIS OFFICE. BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE ENGINE ANALYSIS, A MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT (FAA FORM 8010-4) WILL BE SUBMITTED, AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE, TO AFS-643. 5. THIS INCIDENT NUMBER CE96-IGA0090 IS CLOSED.

## Other reports on N500ZZ (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19950727036199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950727036199A), Jul 27, 1995: Amtr MINI500 (N500ZZ), Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Homebuilt helicopter. Lost power on demo flight. Autorotated. Skid caught crop folded skids. Carb too lean. Seized. (-23) on July 27, 1995, approximately 0930,…
- [Accident 19920625024549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920625024549A), Jun 25, 1992: Amtr MINI500 (N500ZZ), Missouri City, MO, Substantial damage. Engine over heated due improper crankshaft connecting rod bearing bore. Engine returned to builder. Research test.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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