20000723043009A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Amtr Rotorwayexec · Circleville, OH · July 23, 2000

Date: July 23, 2000 · 19:58 local
Place: Circleville, OH
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N651GE
NTSB investigation: NTSBIAD00LA065
Reported as: Amtr Rotorwayexec
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,500 total35 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N651GERegistration cancelled Oct 29, 2013 · Easterday Glenn R ROTORWAY EXEC 90S/N 1936 · Built 1999 Airframe modelEasterday Glenn R ROTORWAY EXEC 90 Engine modelRotorway RW152Reciprocating

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.

(-23) Pilot had lifted off from a small lot adjacent to his home. Purpose of flight was a passenger sight seeing flight even though pilot did not hold an airman certificate. After hovering for a short time, pilot began a climbing left hand turn. Helicopter reached an altitude of approximately 50' AGL and witness statements indicates that the aircraft flight path was over the roof of an adjacent building. Pilot stated that he noticed a split in the rotor RPM and engine RPM gauge. Pilot continued left hand turn to return to takeoff spot. Passenger remarked to pilot that they were close to a utility power pole ahead and to the left. Helicopter's rotor struck utility pole approximately 10' from the top. Helicopter fell vertically approximately 20' to 25' landing on left side.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT HAD LIFTED OFF FROM A SMALL LOT ADJACENT TO HIS HOME. PURPOSE OF FLIGHT WAS A PASSENGER SIGHT SEEING FLIGHT EVEN THOUGH PILOT DID NOT HOLD AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE. AFTER HOVERING FOR A SHORT TIME, PILOT BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT HAND TURN. HELICOPTER REACHED AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 50' AGL AND WITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT PATH WAS OVER THE ROOF OF AN ADJACENT BUILDING. PILOT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A SPLIT IN THE ROTOR RPM AND ENGINE RPM GAUGE. PILOT CONTINUED LEFT HAND TURN TO RETURN TO TAKEOFF SPOT. PASSENGER REMARKED TO PILOT THAT THEY WERE CLOSE TO A UTILITY POWER POLE AHEAD AND TO THE LEFT. HELICOPTER'S ROTOR STRUCK UTILITY POLE APPROXIMATELY 10' FROM THE TOP. HELICOPTER FELL VERTICALLY APPROXIMATELY 20' TO 25' LANDING ON LEFT SIDE.

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 IAD00LA065Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCircleville, OHPilot's improper decision to depart a confined area with two people onboard, which resulted in a loss of rotor RPM and collision with a utility pole and wires.Jul 23, 2000 · Substantial damage