# Accident 20140413006379A: Christopher W Sands HELICYCLE, Reno, NV, April 13, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 13, 2014, 12:17 local time
- Place: Reno, NV
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.6681° N, 119.8675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78CS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78CS-2018-03-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Christopher W Sands HELICYCLE (registry code 05631GN, https://openairdocs.org/model/christopher-w-sands-helicycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Solar T-62 (registry code 58100, https://openairdocs.org/engine/solar-t-62) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHRISTOPHER W SANDS HELICYCLE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 54 total, 1 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140413006379A

## Narrative

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

THE HELICYCLE STUDENT PILOT WAS FLYING A LEFT PATTERN FOR RUWAY 08. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY PLUNGE TO THE GROUND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN CROSSWIND AND DOWNWIND, COMPLETING  1 - 2 SPIRALS BEFORE IMPACTING THE GROUND. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.

## 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 WPR14FA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14FA167), Apr 13, 2014: Sands Helicycle (N78CS), Reno, NV, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the helicopter while in the traffic pattern.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.