19991001040219A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr Rotorwayexec · Gallup, NM · October 1, 1999

Date: October 1, 1999 · 06:45 local
Place: Gallup, NM
Airport: Gallup Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N716JB
NTSB investigation: NTSBDEN00LA001
Reported as: Amtr Rotorwayexec
Reported engine: AMTRRW ROTWY152
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 158 total155 in this make and model14 in the last 90 days

N716JBRegistered now · Gray Jim Robert EXECS/N EXEC-3000 Airframe modelGray Jim Robert EXEC Engine modelRotorway RW-145 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The pilot remained in the traffic pattern to practice touch and go landings. At approximately the point where the helicopter would turn onto the base leg, rotor RPM began to decay (95%). The pilot turned towards the runway and began autorotation. During the descent, the pilot managed to avoid houses and powerlines. The helicopter struck the ground tail first, then rolled over on its left side. The engine was later functionally tested and, despite impact damage to the crankshaft, operated normally.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. AT APPROXIMATELY THE POINT WHERE THE HELICOPTER WOULD TURN ONTO THE BASE LEG, ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO DECAY (95%). THE PILOT TURNED TOWARDS THE RUNWAY AND BEGAN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE DESCENT, THE PILOT MANAGED TO AVOID HOUSES AND POWERLINES. THE HELICOPTER STRUCK THE GROUND TAIL FIRST, THEN ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND, DESPITE IMPACT DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT, OPERATED NORMALLY.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB DEN00LA001Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGallup, NMThe pilot inadvertently allowing main rotor rpm to decay while avoiding obstacles during an emergency autorotation following a loss of power for reasons undetermined. Factors were houses and powerlines.Oct 1, 1999 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N716JB · 2

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

Accident 20171217023219ACruise/Level Flight · Caldwell, IDWhile performing what the pilot called "taxi way pattern work" (flying 40' AGL above the airport taxiways @ 10-20 KTS) the engine made a unusual noise. The pilot pushed the cyclic forward to perform an emergency landing. At 20' AGL the aircraft experienced a…Dec 17, 2017 · Substantial damage Accident 20161019021589ATakeoff: Climb Out · Caldwell, IDPilot stated engine failed as helicopter was approx. 20 feet AGL and 50 KIAS. He maneuvered to grass area between the taxiway and runway 12/30 and prepared for a hard landing. Aircraft made contact with surface on skids and tail boom stinger. The helicopter…Oct 19, 2016 · Substantial damage