20051113029379A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr EXEC162F · Chandler, AZ · November 13, 2005

Date: November 13, 2005 · 15:30 local
Place: Chandler, AZ
Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N321JN
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX06CA033
Reported as: Amtr EXEC162F
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 190 total40 in this make and model40 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) The pilot departed maricopa/phoenix regional airport (A39) and was enroute to Chandler airport (chd) when at an established cruise altitude the engine began to run erratically. The pilot radioed chd and declared an emergency. The pilot entered an autorotative glide at approx. 1000 ft (AGL). The pilot completed an autorotative landing in an elementary school yard approx. four (4) miles southeast of Chandler airport (chd). There was no injury to the pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, nor to personnel/property on the ground. The helicopter was substantially damaged but without any post accident fire. The helicopter was released by the NTSB to the owner/pilot and ground transported to his residence.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED MARICOPA/PHOENIX REGIONAL AIRPORT (A39) AND WAS ENROUTE TO CHANDLER AIRPORT (CHD) WHEN AT AN ESTABLISHED CRUISE ALTITUDE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ERRATICALLY. THE PILOT RADIOED CHD AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE GLIDE AT APPROX. 1000 FT (AGL). THE PILOT COMPLETED AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YARD APPROX. FOUR (4) MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHANDLER AIRPORT (CHD). THERE WAS NO INJURY TO THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE HELICOPTER, NOR TO PERSONNEL/PROPERTY ON THE GROUND. THE HELICOPTER WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BUT WITHOUT ANY POST ACCIDENT FIRE. THE HELICOPTER WAS RELEASED BY THE NTSB TO THE OWNER/PILOT AND GROUND TRANSPORTED TO HIS RESIDENCE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX06CA033Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportChandler, AZa loss of engine power due to fuel contamination (rust, water) as a result of the pilot's inadequate preflight planning preparation.Nov 13, 2005 · Substantial damage