# Accident 20060506023009A: Helowe HX1WASP, Portmouth, VA, May 6, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 6, 2006, 13:30 local time
- Place: Portmouth, VA
- Airport: Hampton Roads Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7800° N, 76.4489° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7800&lon=-76.4489&mi=10
- Aircraft: N636WP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N636WP-2009-03-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Helo Werks HX-1 WASP (registry code 05621B7, https://openairdocs.org/model/helo-werks-hx-1-wasp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HELOWE HX1WASP
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC06CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA110) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060506023009A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS HOVERING NOSE HIGH INTO THE WIND, ABOUT 20 FEET AGL, WHEN HE MISTAKENLY HIT THE CONTROL STICK MOUNTED FUEL VALVE SHUT-OFF TOGGLE SWITCH, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH RADIO FREQUENCIES. THE TURBINE ENGINE FLAMED OUR IMMEDIATELY, AND THE HELICOPTER SETTLED FAST, HITTING TAIL FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE SKIDS. IT CAME TO REST WHERE IT HIT, WITH NO FURTHER HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT, ON THE GRASS NEXT TO THE TAXIWAY, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE AIRPORT. THE DAMAGE IS SUBSTANTIAL/DESTROYED (BROKEN TAIL BOOM, SEPARATED TAIL ROTOR AND ROTOR AND DRIVE, BROKEN AND SPREAD SKIDS, BROKEN FUSELAGE, RIGHT SIDE, TOP AND BOTTOM, AND ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE CONTACTED THE TAIL BOOM, AND HAS CREASES IN FOUR DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ALONG ITS SPAN.

## 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 NYC06CA110](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA110), May 6, 2006: Helo Werks HX-1 Wasp (N636WP), Hampton Roads, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent activation of the helicopter manufacturer's improperly located, unguarded fuel shutoff switch.

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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