# Accident 20240614018579A: Eberhart Terry A ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, Alva, FL, June 14, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 14, 2024, 18:30 local time
- Place: Alva, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.7333° N, 81.5750° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7333&lon=-81.5750&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99TE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99TE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eberhart Terry A ROTORWAY EXEC 162F (registry code 056063T, https://openairdocs.org/model/eberhart-terry-a-rotorway-exec-162f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotorway RW152 (registry code 55006, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-rw152) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EBERHART TERRY A ROTORWAY EXEC 162F
- Reported engine: ROTORWAY RW152
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA263) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240614018579A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 14, 2024 AN EXPIERMENTAL HELICOPTER FLEW FROM , ALVA, FLORIDA TO 87FL. AFTER ONE PASS OF THE AIRPORT THE HELICOPTER ENTERED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS AN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS(LTE) AT APPROX. 100FT.  UPON THE EMERGENCY RECOVERY OF THE LTE EVENT THE HELICOPTER SET DOWN ON A CANAL BERM AND ROLLED INTO THE CANAL NEAR AIRPORT 87FL. THE HELOCOPTER'S MAIN ROTOR BLADES, TAIL ROTOR BLADES, TAIL BOOM, AND WINDSHIELD WERE DAMAGED SUBSTAINALY. NO INJURIES, 2 PILOTS ON BOARD EXITED THE HELICOPTER SAFELY. UPON REVIEW OF THE BOLT ASSEMBLY IN THE TAIL BOOM ON JULY 2 ,2024. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT JAM NUT HAD BECOME LOOSE MORE THAN 3 INCHES POSSIBLY FROM VIBRATIONS IN THE TAIL BOOM. THIS ALLOWED THE SELF-LOCKING NYLON NUT TO LOOSEN APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FULL TURNS. THIS ASSEMBLY IN EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER ROTORWAY EXEC 162F KEEPS TENSION ON THE PULLEY BELT SYSTEM THAT RUNS THE TAIL ROTOR. LEADING TO AN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS.

## 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 ERA24LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA263), Jun 14, 2024: Rotorway Exec (N99TE), Alva, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of tail rotor control as a result of unsecured tail rotor drive belt tensioner bolts.

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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