# Accident 19970826023989A: Amtr MINI500, Huffman, TX, August 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 26, 1997, 19:45 local time
- Place: Huffman, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 30.0595° N, 95.0900° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0595&lon=-95.0900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N570F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N570F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fingerhut Steven MINI 500 (registry code 05603K0, https://openairdocs.org/model/fingerhut-steven-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 certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 50 total, 28 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA328) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970826023989A

## Narrative

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

COLLECTIVE DISCONNECT. DAMAGED ON RUN ON LOG. FAILED PREFLITE COLLECTIVE USED INCORRECT CONTROL INPUTS. UNSKILLED. (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #FTW97LA320                                            (.19) ON AUGUST 26, 1997, AT 1945 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A FINGERHUT REVOLUTION MINI 500 HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER, N570F, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR HUFFMAN, TEXAS. THE STUDENT PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER, WAS NOT INJURED. THE HELICOPTER WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT FOR WHICH A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A HELIPAD AT THE PILOT'S HOME IN HUFFMAN, TEXAS AT 1915. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT DISCONNECT OF THE COLLECTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES GOING TO FLAT PITCH WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT. THE PILOT ADDED THAT HE ELECTED TO EXECUTE A RUNNING LANDING TO A CULTIVATED FIELD RATHER THAN TRY TO LAND IN A CONFINED HELIPAD. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE HELICOPTER YAWED TO THE LEFT AS THE PILOT APPLIED COLLECTIVE TO FLARE PRIOR TO TOUCHING DOWN. T                                   HE PILOT ADDED THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED DURING TOUCH DOWN AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE. THE FAA INSPECTOR CONFIRMED THAT THE 1997 MODEL HELICOPTER SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. HE ADDED THAT THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PROPERLY ENDORSE FOR SOLO FLIGHT AND HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 50 HOURS OF FLIGHT IN HELICOPTERS, OF WHICH 28 WERE IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA328), Aug 27, 1997: Fingerhut Revolution Mini 500 (N570F), Huffman, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disengagement of the helicopter's collective control tube due to improper installation by the builder. Factors were the lack of sufficient information provided by the kit manufacturer and the…

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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