# Accident 20050804017489A: SAFARI, Leavenworth, WA, August 4, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 4, 2005, 07:30 local time
- Place: Leavenworth, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr On Vertical Ldng/Rtrcrft
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.6292° N, 120.6506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6292&lon=-120.6506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N13MA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13MA-2005-09-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Steele David L SAFARI HELICOPTER (registry code 05610IQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/steele-david-l-safari-helicopter) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SAFARI
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,040 total, 228 in this make and model, 41 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA05LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050804017489A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AFTER DEPARTING CASHMERE, WA, IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A/C DEVELOPED "BUZZ" AND A MOMENTARY "YAW". PIC ELECTED TO MAKE AN AUTOROTATION TO AN OPEN FARMER'S FIELD. FLIGHT TERMINATED IN A "HARD LANDING" WITH "SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE" TO THE AIRFRAME. MAIN ROTOR STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM, "FLINGING" THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT SOME 150 YARDS FROM THE WRECKAGE. AN UNKNOWN PERSON FOUND THE DRIVE SHAFT AND PLACED IT NEXT TO THE WRECKAGE SOME TIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO POST LANDING FIRE AND NO INJURIES TO THE PIC. AIRCRAFT CONDITION INSPECTION DATE: 02/04/2005.

## 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 SEA05LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA163), Aug 4, 2005: Steele Safari (N13MA), Leavenworth, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tail rotor drive shaft during cruise flight. Factors include soft, grassy terrain at the location where the pilot executed the autorotational landing.

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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