# Accident 20150328003309A: Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F, Marquette, MI, March 28, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 28, 2015, 14:00 local time
- Place: Marquette, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.5481° N, 87.3969° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5481&lon=-87.3969&mi=10
- Aircraft: N556DG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N556DG-2018-12-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F (registry code 056150G, https://openairdocs.org/model/giackino-donald-w-rotorway-162f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GIACKINO DONALD W ROTORWAY 162F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 917 total, 165 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150328003309A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 28, 2015 AT 1400 EDT, A ROTORWAY 162F AMATURE BUILT HELICOPTER, N556DG WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER IMPACTING A TREE AND GROUND.  THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AT THE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RESIDENCE.

THE PILOT REPORTED HE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND INTO A LOW ALTITUDE HOVER, AND HE WAS APPLYING FORWARD CYCLIC THE HELICOPTER LOST TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS.

THE HELICOPTER STRUCK A TREE THEN STRUCK THE GROUND, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAILBOOM, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND FUSELAGE.  THE PILOT, WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT ONBOARD AND WAS NOT 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 CEN15LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA185), Mar 28, 2015: Giackino Donald W Rotorway 162F (N556DG), Marquette, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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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