20020907026789A

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2002 AT 14:00E WHILE ENROUTE FROM BUTLER FARM SHOW AIRPORT, BUTLER PA. TO ZELIENOPLE AIRPORT, ZELIENOPLE PA. N373TG AN EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER WAS DETERMINED MISSING. FRIENDS OF THE PILOT THOMAS E. GRAHAM FROM ZELIENOPLE AIRPORT CONDUCTED A SEARCH TO NO AVAIL. ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2002, THE POLICE AUTHORITIES WERE INFORMED. THE CIVIL AIR PATROL WAS NOTIFIED AND A SEARCH BY AIR COMMAND. THE HELICOPTER WAS LOCATED ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2002, AT 13:30. THE HELICOPTER AN EXPERIMENTAL MINI 500 S/N 373, N373TG WAS LOCATED AT 141 BOY SCOUT ROAD, RENFREW, PA. 16053. THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ THE CICHRA'S WERE AWAY ON VACATION THE AFTERNOON OF THE ACCIDENT AND DID NOT RETURN HOME UNTIL THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 8. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS IN THE BACK YARD OF A SINGLE FAMILY IN A RURAL AREA. THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE HELICOPTER WAS ON ITS LEFT SIDE SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN, APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. THE AIRCRAFT FIRST IMPACT WAS AT A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 300 DEGREES, IT BOUNCED AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET FROM THE HOUSE WITH A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 240 DEGREES. THE LEFT SIDE SKID WAS BROKEN ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION MOUNT. THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS RUPTURED AND EMPTY. THERE WAS ENGINE COOLANT FOUND UNDER THE AIRCRAFT WHEN IT WAS MOVED. ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS CRUSHED BUT COMPLETE, THE OTHER BLADE WAS UN-DAMAGED. ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS BENT SLIGHTLY DOWNWARDS AND THAT TIP HAD SOME CRACKING ON THE TRAILING EDGE, THE OTHER BLADE WAS UN-DAMAGED. THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AROUND THE AREA AND IN THE GROUND. THERE WAS SOME FUEL IN THE INLINE SIGHT GAUGE/FILTER NEAR THE CARBURETORS, AND THE CARBURETORS HAD FUEL IN THEM, AS DID THE FUEL PUMP. THE CARBURETORS HAD DETACHED THEMSELVES FROM THE RUBBER COUPLINGS, WHICH CONNECTS THEM TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE DEVELOPED PRESSURE FROM THE CYLINDERS AND ROTATED FREELY. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CLEAN WITH ONLY A VERY LITTLE COATING OF OIL. THE CYLINDER WALLS AND PISTONS SHOWED NO SIGNS OF SEIZING. THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION CHIP DETECTOR HAD FERROUS METAL ON THE MAGNETS. THERE WAS FERROUS, AND NONFERROUS METAL SUSPENDED IN THE OIL. THE SIGHT GAUGE LOCATED UNDER THE CHIP DETECTOR SHOWED A HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF FERROUS METAL. THE CHIP DETECTOR LAMP FOR THE MAIN ROTOR TRANSMISSION HAD CONTINUITY (OPERATIONAL). THE CHIP DETECTOR LAMP FOR THE TAIL ROTOR TRANSMISSION WAS OPEN (NON-OPERATIONAL). THE CHIP DETECTOR FOR THE TAIL TRANSMISSION AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL SHOWED NO SIGNS OF METAL. CONTINUITY OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE WERE VERIFIED. THE HOUR RECORDING HOBBS METER SHOWED 26.1 HOURS. THE CARBURETORS MAIN JETS AREA P/N 155. THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND PILOT RECORDS WERE REVIEWED ON OCTOBER 7, 2002. THE RECORDS THAT WERE PRESENTED INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT UNDERGONE A REQUIRED CONDITION INSPECTION. THIS CONDITION INSPECTION WAS DUE THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST 200. THE PILOT RECORDS FOR MR. GRAHAM INDICATED THAT HE HAD A BI-ANNUAL FLIGHT REVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2002 IN A CESSNA 152.