# Accident 20180702009009A: Ronnie Koonce SAFARI 400, Aguilares, TX, July 2, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 2, 2018, 10:00 local time
- Place: Aguilares, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1500° N, 99.1100° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1500&lon=-99.1100&mi=10
- Aircraft: N326RW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N326RW-2024-01-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ronnie Koonce SAFARI 400 (registry code 05637OM, https://openairdocs.org/model/ronnie-koonce-safari-400) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Aerosport O-360 (registry code 01300, https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-o-360) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RONNIE KOONCE SAFARI 400
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA247) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180702009009A

## Narrative

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

PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO FURTHER PHASE I REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION. DURING FLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VIBRATE. THE PILOT TURNED AND STARTED TO DESCEND IN AN EFFORT TO LAND IN AN OPENING WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF THE TAIL ROTOR AUTHORITY AND AIRCRAFT STARTED TO COUNTER ROTATE. AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND AND ROLLED UPON ITS LEFT SIDE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PILOT. THE MAIN ROTORS WERE DESTROYED AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS INTACT. THE TAIL ROTOR QUILL DID NOT ROTATE WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES UPON INSPECTION. TEARDOWN ANALYSIS REVEALED THE TAIL ROTOR PINION SHEARED.

## 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 CEN18LA247](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA247), Jul 2, 2018: Safari 400 (N326RW), Aguilares, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of tail rotor control due to the in-flight failure of the tail rotor pinion.

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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