# Accident 19971205037469A: Amtr HELICYCLE, Big Timber, MT, December 5, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 5, 1997, 13:00 local time
- Place: Big Timber, MT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9596° N, 109.8495° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9596&lon=-109.8495&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3275Q, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3275Q-2007-06-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schramm Buford J HELICYCLE (registry code 05628GC, https://openairdocs.org/model/schramm-buford-j-helicycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR HELICYCLE
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX618
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 973 total, 114 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971205037469A

## Narrative

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

EXPERI HELICYLCE HELICOPTER CRASHED UND UNK CIRC, BIG TIMBER, MT. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A HIGH SPEED FLY-BY TO DEMONSTRATE THE HELICOPTER TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS, HE BECAME DISTRACTED BY A LOW ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT FOLLOW HIS INTENDED FLIGHT PATH AND DID NOT SEE THE POWER LINES UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT.  THE PILOT ROLLED THE HELICOPTER TO A NEAR 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH AND CUT THE TRANSMISSION WIRES.   THE HELICOPTER SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED IN SNOW ON LEVEL TERRAIN.

## 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 SEA98LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA020), Dec 5, 1997: Schramm Helicycle (N3275Q), Big Timber, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines. The pilot's diverted attention and transmission wires were factors.

## Other reports on N3275Q (1)

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

- [Accident 20040427009179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040427009179A), Apr 27, 2004: Amtr HELICYCLE (N3275Q), Montour, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at approximately 14:05 LCL, MDT, an experimental amateur-built schramm Helicycle, N3275Q, crashed into the payette river at…

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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