# Accident 19990830047559A: Amtr ROTORDYNE200, Kent, WA, August 30, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 1999, 19:02 local time
- Place: Kent, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.3609° N, 122.0996° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3609&lon=-122.0996&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85Z-2000-05-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Huber James M ROTORDYNE 200 (registry code 05605OD, https://openairdocs.org/model/huber-james-m-rotordyne-200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR ROTORDYNE200
- Reported engine: LYC O290D2
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA151) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990830047559A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE CO-OWNER/BUILDER HAD BEEN ENGAGED IN RESETTING THE ANGLE OF ATTACK (PITCH ANGLE) OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES PREVIOUS TO THE ACCIDENT. WITNESSES REPORTED OBSERVING THE GYROCOPTER DEPART TO THE SOUTH, PROCEED WEST, AND THEN EXECUTE SEVERAL OSCILLATORY, ROCKING OR PITCHING LIKE MANEUVERS AFTER WHICH THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT TO THE GROUND.  POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT ALL EIGHT OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH ADJUSTMENT BOLTS WERE LOOSE.  EXAMINATION OF THE UPPER OUTBOARD SHIM PLATE OF EACH BLADE ATTACH BAR REVEALED MARKINGS WHICH CLEARLY ESTABLISHED A PITCH BOLT TORQUE OF 190 INCH-POUNDS.  RELEASE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE PITCH ADJUSTMENT BOLTS WOULD ALLOW A ROTOR BLADE PITCH CHANGE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL.    (-23) BOLTS USED TO SECURE BLADE ANGLE WAS FOUND LOOSE.

## 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 SEA99LA151](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA151), Aug 31, 1999: Rotordyne 200 (N85Z), Kent, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The owner/builder's failure to properly torque the rotor blade retaining bolts.

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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