# Accident 20080719855159A: Busch HELICYCLE, Stuart, FL, July 19, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2008, 11:15 local time
- Place: Stuart, FL
- Airport: Witham Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1817° N, 80.2217° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1817&lon=-80.2217&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3375C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3375C-2021-07-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE (registry code 05617BH, https://openairdocs.org/model/buschmann-robert-e-helicycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BUSCH HELICYCLE
- Reported engine: SOLAR T62
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5 total, 2 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC08CA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA252) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080719855159A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED (LNA) LANTANA AIRPORT, FLORIDA, ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO (SUA) STUART, FLORIDA ON JULY 19, 2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:40 AM (STUDENT PILOT PRIVILEGES HELICOPTER).  THE AIRCRAFT WAS A BUSCHMANN HELICYCLE, N3375C (EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER) AND THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON THE TAXIWAY AT STUART, FL.  JUST PRIOR TO LANDING THE PILOT EXPERIENCED THE HELICOPTER YAWING TO THE RIGHT.  HE APPLIED THE LEFT PEDAL TO CORRECT THE YAW, BUT THERE WAS NO EFFECT.  ONCE HE SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN, HE CHECKED ALL THE INSTRUMENTS AND THEY CHECKED OUT NORMAL.  THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OR VIBRATION COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT FELT HE NEEDED TO MOVE THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE TAXIWAY, SO HE STARTED TO LIFT OFF INTO A HOVER.  HE INITATED A SLOW TURN INTO THE WIND, BUT WHEN HE APPLIED ANTITORQUE THE TURN DID NOT STOP.  HE THEN APPLIED THE LEFT CYCLIC AND LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE.  THE RIGHT SKID TOUCHED FIRST, BUT THEN THE RIGHT STRUT COLLAPSED WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRIKING THE GROUND.  THE PILOT THEN SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND THE HELICYCLE WAS TRANSPORTED BACK TO LANTANA VIA TRUCK FOR REPAIRS.

## 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 NYC08CA252](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA252), Jul 19, 2008: Buschmann Robert E Helicycle (N3375C), Stuart, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to take off with a known discrepancy. Contributing to the accident was spilled fuel on the drive belts.

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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