20120901018989A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Johnston Douglas S SAFARI · Mcveytown, PA · September 1, 2012

Date: September 1, 2012 · 09:00 local
Place: Mcveytown, PA
Airport: N/A
Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N70415
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA12LA541
Reported as: Johnston Douglas S Safari
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0

N70415Registration cancelled Sep 18, 2017 · Johnston Douglas S SAFARIS/N 0442N Airframe modelJohnston Douglas S SAFARI

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.

Aircraft was manuvering at approximately 200 feet AGL out of ground effect hover flight over gently sloping terrain and then descended in near vertical path to impact. Witnesses noticed change in engine noise. Aircraft appeared to descend in near vertical path to impact. Witnesses stated main rotor appeared almost stopped before impact. Single occupant (pilot) fatality resulted. Aircraft destroyed.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS MANUVERING AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL OUT OF GROUND EFFECT HOVER FLIGHT OVER GENTLY SLOPING TERRAIN AND THEN DESCENDED IN NEAR VERTICAL PATH TO IMPACT.WITNESSES NOTICED CHANGE IN ENGINE NOISE. AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO DESCEND IN NEAR VERTICAL PATH TO IMPACT. WITNESSES STATED MAIN ROTOR APPEARED ALMOST STOPPED BEFORE IMPACT. SINGLE OCCUPANT (PILOT) FATALITY RESULTED. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED.

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 ERA12LA541Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMcVeytown, PAThe pilot's lack of proficiency and certification, which resulted in his failure to enter an autorotation when the engine lost power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent…Sep 1, 2012 · Substantial damage