# Accident 19980531011479A: Amtr BABYBELLE, Inyokern, CA, May 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Inyokern, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.8799° N, 118.1507° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8799&lon=-118.1507&mi=10
- Aircraft: N656VK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N656VK-2014-04-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fields Stuart G BABY BELLE (registry code 05604K2, https://openairdocs.org/model/fields-stuart-g-baby-belle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR BABYBELLE
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2J
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 315 total, 60 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA178) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980531011479A

## Narrative

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

VIBRATIONS AND YAW AFTER TAKEOFF. NOSED OVER. UNCONTROLLABLE DESCENT. NOT EQUIPPED WITH LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING LIGHT (.4)THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND 60 FEET AGL, HE FELT AN INCREASING VIBRATION WHICH HE ATTEMPTED TO REDUCE BY RAISING THE COLLECTIVE.  HE DECIDED TO LAND AND AS HE APPLIED AFT CYCLIC AND REDUCED THE COLLECTIVE, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN YAWING TO THE LEFT AND HE RAN OUT OF RIGHT PEDAL.  THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND AT APPROXIMATELY A 45-DEGREE NOSE-DOWN ATTITUDE AND 20-30 DEGREE LEFT ROLL.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE BUILT THE KIT HELICOPTER, WHICH HAS A TOTAL TIME OF 67 HOURS.  THE KIT DOES NOT INCLUDE A LOW ROTOR RPM WARNING SYSTEM.  THE PILOT HOLDS A PRIVATE PILOT CERTIFICATE WITH A SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING AND HAS A HELICOPTER SOLO ENDORSEMENT DATED AUGUST 22, 1997.

## 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 LAX98LA178](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA178), May 31, 1998: Fields Baby Belle (N656VK), Inyokern, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to recover from a low rotor rpm condition, which resulted in a loss of aircraft control.

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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