# Accident 20170925020899A: Brad J. Bates MOSQUITO XE285, Odessa, FL, September 25, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 25, 2017, 17:40 local time
- Place: Odessa, FL
- Airport: 10207 Lake Grove Dr., Odessa,
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.1208° N, 82.5942° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1208&lon=-82.5942&mi=10
- Aircraft: N926KB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N926KB-2020-08-19) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Brad J Bates MOSQUITO XE 285 (registry code 056355D, https://openairdocs.org/model/brad-j-bates-mosquito-xe-285) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Suzuki INNTEC-800 (registry code 59354, https://openairdocs.org/engine/suzuki-inntec-800) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRAD J. BATES MOSQUITO XE285
- Reported engine: INNTEC 800
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 80 total, 18 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA17LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA335) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170925020899A

## Narrative

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

N926KB DEPARTED FROM (10207 LAKE GROVE DRIVE, ODESSA, FL) FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT OF ABOUT 40-MINUTE, WITH APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF 93 OCTANE. WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED FOR LAND HE SPOTTED LAKE GROVE DRIVE AND STARTED HIS DESCENT FOR LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET AGL THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO LOSE ENGINE RPM.  THE PILOT INCREASED THE THROTTLE, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND STARTS AN AUTOROTATION FOR LANDING. THE PILOT LOOKED FOR A PLACE TO LAND, WHICH BECAME THE BACKYARD OF A HOUSE AT 9450 ROBERTS ROAD, ODESSA, FL. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE LANDING AREA AND WAS FORCE TO LAND ON THE HOUSE LOCATED AT 9450 ROBERTS ROAD.

HELICOPTER IMPACT WAS NEAR THE PEAK OF THE ROOF AND THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED FROM THE BODY OF THE HELICOPTER AND ONLY ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE WITH CABLES. THE FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE ROOF ON ITS LEFT SIDE BREAKING THROUGH THE ROOF AND CRUSHING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE MAIN ROTORS APPEARED NOT TO BE TURNING ON IMPACT SINCE THERE ARE NO BLADE STRIKES ON THE ROOF. ONE BLADE WAS TOTALLY UNDAMAGED AND THE OTHER BLADE WAS BENT AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE AND PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE ROOF. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ROOF STRUCTURE WITH APPROXIMATELY 5-6 GALLONS OF GAS LEAKING INTO THE HOUSE. THERE WAS NO FIRE.

## 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 ERA17LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA335), Sep 25, 2017: Brad J Bates Mosquito XE 285 (N926KB), Odessa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to cold seizure of the No.1 piston, which resulted in its failure and a subsequent emergency autorotation and impact with a house’s roof.

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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