20120704013689A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Omlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY · Quincey, WA · July 4, 2012

Date: July 4, 2012 · 17:07 local
Place: Quincey, WA
Airport: Quincy Flying Service
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N385AR
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR12CA294
Reported as: Omlin Robert G Exec 162F Rotorway
Reported engine: Rotorway RI-162F
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 880 total84 in this make and model9 in the last 90 days

N385ARRegistered now · Omlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAYS/N 8005 · Built 2010 Airframe modelOmlin Robert G EXEC 162F ROTORWAY Engine modelRotorway RI-162F4 cycle

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.

Prior to flight the pilot attached a 3 x 5 foot flag on/below the skids /struts of the aircraft N385AR. During flight, at approx 200 feet AGL, the flag departed the aircraft and came in contact with the tail rotor. The pilot executed an auto rotation and experienced a hard landing in a field.

As the FAA filed it

PRIOR TO FLIGHT THE PILOT ATTACHED A 3 X 5 FOOT FLAG ON/BELOW THE SKIDS /STRUTS OF THE AIRCRAFT N385AR. DURING FLIGHT, AT APPROX 200 FEET AGL, THE FLAG DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR.THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTO ROTATION AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING IN A FIELD.

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 WPR12CA294Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportQuincy, WAThe pilot’s failure to ensure that a flag attached to the landing skid was properly secured, which resulted in its in-flight separation and contact with the tail rotor.Jul 5, 2012 · Substantial damage