19970718047599A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr ROTORWAY EXEC · Lakeport, CA · July 18, 1997

Date: July 18, 1997 · 09:30 local
Place: Lakeport, CA
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6323F
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX97LA257
Reported as: Amtr Rotorwayexec

N6323FRegistration cancelled Sep 23, 1997 · Fronsman Nathan F ROTORWAY EXECS/N 3234 Airframe modelFronsman Nathan F ROTORWAY EXEC

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-16) Nathan fronsman, builder and pilot of this experimental rotorway exec helicopter, reported that during hover practice over the taxiway, he noticed his low oil pressure warning light was on. He returned to the ramp and noticed that the oil pressure gauge was reading close to zero. He landed the helicopter and upon exiting, noticed flames and smoke coming from the right side of the engine compartment. He emptied 3 fire extinguishers in an effort to extinguish the fire. The helicopter however, was completely destroyed by fire. Mr. Fronsman stated that he had installed the warning light system and changed the oil sump gasket a few hours prior to the accident.

As the FAA filed it

(-16) NATHAN FRONSMAN, BUILDER AND PILOT OF THIS EXPERIMENTAL ROTORWAY EXEC HELICOPTER, REPORTED THAT DURING HOVER PRACTICE OVER THE TAXIWAY, HE NOTICED HIS LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. HE RETURNED TO THE RAMP AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS READING CLOSE TO ZERO. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND UPON EXITING, NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE EMPTIED 3 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN AN EFFORT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE HELICOPTER HOWEVER, WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY FIRE. MR. FRONSMAN STATED THAT HE HAD INSTALLED THE WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM AND CHANGED THE OIL SUMP GASKET A FEW HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX97LA257Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLakeport, CAan undetermined failure of the oil system (lines or filter), while hovering, which resulted in an engine compartment fire that erupted and subsequently destroyed the helicopter after it was landed.Jul 18, 1997 · Destroyed