# Accident 20180128006169A: Vertical Aviation Technologies 260L HUMMINGBIRD, Harrisville, NY, January 28, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 28, 2018, 15:30 local time
- Place: Harrisville, NY
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.2978° N, 75.2469° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2978&lon=-75.2469&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4045, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4045-2022-02-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Vertical Aviation Technologies 260L HUMMINGBIRD (registry code 05630MH, https://openairdocs.org/model/vertical-aviation-technologies-260l-hummingbird) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VERTICAL AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES 260L HUMMINGBIRD
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR DONAVAN CORVETTE V-8
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,933 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18TA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA076) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180128006169A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTED POTSDAM KPTD AROUND 3 PM ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 28. I WAS ABOUT 6 MILES FROM HARRISVILLE ON A DIRECT COURSE AT 80 KTS AND 500 FEET AGL. I FELT THE ENGINE SPUTTER ONCE AND THEN QUIT ALTOGETHER. I ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND SHOT FOR A LOW-LYING VALLEY WITH THE SHORTEST TREES AS MY ONLY OPTION. THE HELICOPTER CAME TO REST IN A NEAR VERTICAL AUTOROTATION AND THE MAIN ROTOR AND TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED TREES.  OTHER DAMAGE INCLUDED THE WHEELED LANDING GEAR. I EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND HIKED OUT OF THE WOODS TO THE NEARBY ROAD WHERE I WAS PICKED UP BY AN ASSOCIATE. I WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 ERA18TA076](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18TA076), Jan 28, 2018: Vertical Aviation Technologies 260L Hummingbird (N4045), Harrisville, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of an electric fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power during cruise flight.

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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