# Accident 19980520010289A: Amtr MINI500, Grove, OK, May 20, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 1998, 09:25 local time
- Place: Grove, OK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.5894° N, 94.7798° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5894&lon=-94.7798&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6144S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6144S-2000-02-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Harding Roy A REVOLUTION MINI-500B (registry code 05605U4, https://openairdocs.org/model/harding-roy-a-revolution-mini-500b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR MINI500
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 59 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA234) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980520010289A

## Narrative

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

CLUTCH OR DRIVE BELT FAILED. AUTORATATED INTO PARKING LOT. STRUCK A TRUCK BURNED.(.4) WHILE CRUISING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1,350 FEET MSL, THE PILOT FELT A `SUDDEN HESITATION AND SMELLED THE  ODOR OF SMOKE.' WHILE `DETERMINING IF  A  SERIOUS MALFUNCTION EXISTED,' THE HELICOPTER EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF MAIN ROTOR DRIVE AND ALTITUDE, `ALONG WITH A STRONGER BURNING ODOR.'THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION TO A FIELD ADJACENT TO A SCHOOL. HOWEVER, PRIOR TO REACHING THE INTENDED LANDING AREA, THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A PICKUP TRUCK, `FLIPPED OVER, LANDED IN  THE  FIELD AND STARTED ON FIRE.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT HE HAD ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE MAIN DRIVE BELT AND ENGINE.                                                        (-23) ROTORCRAFT LOST ROTOR DRIVE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON THE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS, HITTING A PICKUP AND BOUNCING INTO A PRACTICE FIELD. POST CRASH FIRE DEMOLISHED ROTORCRAFT.

## 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 FTW98LA234](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA234), May 20, 1998: Harding Revolution MINI-500B (N6144S), Grove, OK, destroyed. Probable cause: The improper alignment of the main drive belt by the owner/pilot/mechanic, which resulted in the failure of the main drive belt. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

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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