20040427009179A

(-23) On Tuesday, April 27, 2004, at approximately 14:05 LCL, MDT, an experimental amateur-built schramm Helicycle, N3275Q, crashed into the payette river at the east end of black canyon reservoir, near Montour, Idaho. The private pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft died in the accident. The helicopter was first certificated on March 29, 1995, and was initially certificated with a Rotax reciprocating engine. The helicopter had subsequently been modified with the installation of a non-certificated solar T-62 turbine engine that originally was installed in a ground power unit. The powerplant was modified by the builder and the installation was not approved by the FAA as specified in the experimental operating limitations that were issued at the time of original certification. The helicopter was destroyed by the impact, however, the pilot remained secured in the wreckage. The wreckage was not located until the next day. At the time of the accident the pilot was wearing a helmet with a digital video camera mounted on it. The helmet and camera were not found. The tail rotor drive shaft and tail rotor were not recovered. The wreckage was pulled from the lake by police personnel. The fuel filter contained unknown debris. Additional inspection of the wreckage revealed that a welded control arm which is attached to the pilot's tail rotor control pedals had broken loose. The arm was found to be extensively corroded around the entire area of attachment. This control arm transmits pedal movement to the tail rotor control bellcrank for tail rotor positioning left and right.