# Accident 20000104000899A: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Chandler, AZ, January 4, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 4, 2000, 14:00 local time
- Place: Chandler, AZ
- Airport: Stellar Airpark Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2667° N, 111.8000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2667&lon=-111.8000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N89678, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89678-2001-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cobb Intl Inc DBA Rotorway INT ROTORWAY EXEC 90 (registry code 13017LM, https://openairdocs.org/model/cobb-intl-inc-dba-rotorway-int-rotorway-exec-90) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR ROTORWAYEXEC
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000104000899A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JANUARY 4, 2000, ABOUT 1400 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL ROTORWAY EXEC 9 HELICOPTER, N89678, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM DURING AN AUTOROTATION AT MEMORIAL AIRPORT NEAR CHANDLER, ARIZONA. ROTORWAY INTERNATIONAL OPERATED THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91.  THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PRIVATE PILOT STUDENT WERE NOT INJURED.  THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED STELLAR AIR PARK NEAR CHANDLER, ARIZONA, ABOUT 1320.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE SAFETY BOARD WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 12, 2000.  THE OPERATOR STATED THE FLIGHT WAS A FAMILIARIZATION FOR THE PRIVATE PILOT, WHO WAS TRANSITIONING INTO THIS MODEL OF HELICOPTER.  AN APPROACH WAS BEING MADE TO RUNWAY 03 WHEN ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST AT 100 FEET.  AN AUTOROTATION WAS MADE TO SOFT SAND, BUT THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM, AND THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND.  THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT A SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE SECONDARY DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED.                                                                     (-23) UPON PILOT MAKING A NORMAL APPROACH @MEMORIAL FIELD, CHANDLER, AZ. A LOUD NOISE WAS OBSERVED JUST AFT OF THE COCKPIT. PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION FROM APPROX. 100 FT (AGL) TOUCHDOWN/ FENCE CAUSED BLADES TO CONTACT RUNWAY THE HELI CAME TO REST RIGHT SIDE UP, BUT THE M/R BLADES DID CONTACT THE TAIL BOOM/JUST AFT OF THE HORI. STAB. NO INJURIES, NO FIRE.

## 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 LAX00LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA071), Jan 4, 2000: Rotorway Exec 90 (N89678), Chandler, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the fatigue fracture and separation of the secondary drive shaft, which resulted from the manufacturer's inadequate quality control process.

## Other reports on N89678 (3)

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

- [Accident 19960522012139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960522012139A), May 22, 1996: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC (N89678), Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Landed hard due low rotor RPM. Folded skid. Rolled over. NR1 piston top broke off. Engine operated defect in piston
- [Accident 19931208046329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931208046329A), Dec 8, 1993: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC (N89678), Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Balance ballast weight not switched to rear for 2 occupants. Was forward for student solo. Crashed nose down.
- [Accident 19930209002169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930209002169A), Feb 9, 1993: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC (N89678), Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Engine quit in pattern on test flight. Rocked on landing. Rolled. Engine had swallowed a valve. Stem not ground.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.