# Accident 20021019028579A: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Tucson, AZ, October 19, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 19, 2002, 10:00 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Ryan Field Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Autorot Descent (Rotorcraft)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1431° N, 111.1728° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1431&lon=-111.1728&mi=10
- Aircraft: N162AZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N162AZ-2004-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Johnson James Walter ROTORWAY 162F (registry code 05607WQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-james-walter-rotorway-162f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR ROTORWAY162F
- Reported engine: AMTRRW ROTWY162
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 174 total, 26 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA011) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021019028579A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON OCTOBER 19, 2002, ABOUT 1150 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A HOMEBUILT ROTORWAY 162F, N162AZ, LANDED HARD DURING A FORCED LANDING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH OF RYAN FIELD, TUCSON, ARIZONA. THE OWNER/OPERATOR WAS OPERATING THE HELICOPTER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED; THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT AN UNKNOWN TIME FROM RYAN FIELD. IN A PHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT A MECHANICAL FAILURE OCCURRED AT ALTITUDE RESULTING IN AN IMMEDIATE AUTOROTATION. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE SECONDARY DRIVE SHAFT BROKE IN HALF RESULTING IN THE ENGINE DISCONNECTING FROM THE ROTOR. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AFTER HITTING A BUSH. (-23) PILOT WAS PERFORMING PATTERN AND GROUND REFERENCE MANEUVERS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES SOUTH WEST OF RYAN AIRPORT (RYN) WHEN THE PILOT INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION. DURING THE AUTOROTATION MANEUVER THE PILOT STRUCK A CACTUS WITH THE RIGHT SKID CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL TO THE LEFT CAUSING THE MAIN                                                     ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE ON ITS LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT STATES THAT THE ENGINE DISENGAGED FROM THE ROTOR DURING HIS PRACTICE MANEUVERS WHICH CAUSED HIM TO INITIATE AN AUTOROTATION. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS NATURE AS THE PILOT COMPLETELY DISPOSED OF THE AIRCRAFT IN A WASTE DUMP PRIOR TO ANY INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ITS COMPONENTS.

## 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 LAX03LA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA011), Oct 19, 2002: Rotorway 162F (N162AZ), Tucson, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: the failure of the secondary drive shaft.

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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