# Accident 20000805004579A: Showalter Robert B HUBSCHRAUBER, Ravenna, OH, August 5, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2000
- Place: Ravenna, OH
- Airport: Portage County Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Location: 41.1505° N, 81.2405° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1505&lon=-81.2405&mi=10
- Aircraft: N11662, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11662-2002-02-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Showalter Robert B HUBSCHRAUBER (registry code 05602PC, https://openairdocs.org/model/showalter-robert-b-hubschrauber) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotorway RW152 (registry code 55006, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-rw152) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD00LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA071) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000805004579A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 70 KNOTS APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL (AGL) WHEN THE PILOT HEARD A LOUD REPORT FROM BEHIND THE COCKPIT, FELT THE HELICOPTER YAW, AND THOUGHT THE TAIL ROTOR HAD DEPARTED THE HELICOPTER. AFTER HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION, HE REALIZED THAT HE STILL HAD TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY. DURING THE DESCENT, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AT IDLE, AND HE CHOSE TO CONTINUE THE AUTOROTATION AT IDLE POWER. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN IN A FIELD. AT THE END OF THE GROUND RUN, THE SKIDS BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE SOYBEAN CROP AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED HE HAD LEFT A SPARK PLUG WIRE UNSECURED AFTER A RECENT INSPECTION, AND THAT HE WAS SURE THE LOOSE WIRE CAUSED THE INTERRUPTION IN POWER AND THE ADVERSE YAW DURING THE FLIGHT. HE SAID THERE WERE NO OTHER MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES WITH THE HELICOPTER. THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD DETERMINES THE PROBABLE CAUSE(S) OF THIS ACCIDENT AS FOLLOWS. THE PILOT/OWNER'S INADEQUATE INSTALLATION OF AN IGNITION LEAD THAT RESULTED INA PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND FORCED LANDING TO UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOYBEAN CROP IN THE FORCED LANDING SITE. (-23) SEE ATTACHED; NO ATTACHED NARRATIVE.

## 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 IAD00LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD00LA071), Aug 5, 2000: Showalter Rotorway 152 (N11662), Ravenna, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/owner's inadequate installation of an ignition lead that resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing to unsuitable terrain. A factor in the accident was the soybean crop…

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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