# Accident 20180502004449A: Michael R Alexander MOSQUITO XE, Iron Station, NC, May 2, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 2018, 10:30 local time
- Place: Iron Station, NC
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4400° N, 81.1200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4400&lon=-81.1200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N725JC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N725JC-2019-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Michael R Alexander MOSQUITO XE (registry code 05631Z5, https://openairdocs.org/model/michael-r-alexander-mosquito-xe) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MICHAEL R ALEXANDER MOSQUITO XE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 3 total, 1 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA18CA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA250) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180502004449A

## Narrative

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

ROTORCRAFT OPERATOR WAS OERATING AIRCRAFT AS AN ULTRALIGHT-SUBJECT ROTORCRAFT DOES NOT MEET ULTRALIGHT COMPLIANCE. OPERATOR HAD 3.1 TOTAL HOURS OF INSTRUCTION IN R22 & R44 ON APRIL 28 & 29, 2018 AND NO OTHER FAA ISSUED CERTIFICATIONS. OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO HOVER AIRCRAFT IN HIS DOMICILE FRONT YARD, MULTIPLE TREES POWER LINES AND UNEVEN/SLOPED LAND.  SPUN T/R INTO TREE BRANCH, LOST CONTROL AND HARD LANDED, WITH MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKES TO THE GROUND.  ROTORCRAFT LANDED ON LH SIDE AND CAUGHT FIRE.  FUSELAGE DESTROYED BY POST IMPACT FIRE.  TAILBOOM COMPOSITE FRACTURES PRESENT AT POST IMPACT INSPECTION.

## 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 GAA18CA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA250), May 2, 2018: Michael R Alexander Mosquito XE (N725JC), Iron Station, NC, destroyed. Probable cause: The noncertificated pilot’s decision to practice hovering the helicopter in a confined space, which resulted in the tail rotor striking a tree.

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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