# NTSB BFO88FID02: Rotorway RW-145, N107LH, Ridgeway, VA, March 29, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 29, 1988, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Ridgeway, VA
- Coordinates: 36.569831, -79.849761 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5698&lon=-79.8498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11377
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88FID02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11377/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88FID02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - rotorcraft flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND FROM A 2 FOOT HOVER WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT HE OVERCONTROLLED THE HELICOPTER AND A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER RESULTED. A WITNESS REPORTED THE HELICOPTER WAS TRAVELING DOWNWIND WHEN IT BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN ON BOTH SKIDS, BOUNCED SIDEWAYS AND ROLLED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED GUSTING WIND BUT DID NOT ESTIMATE THE VELOCITY OF THE GUSTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N107LH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N107LH-1991-03-22), registration cancelled 1991-03-22, S/N 225945484 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTORWAY RW-145
- Registry model: [Hussey Les ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/hussey-les-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017GU) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 225945484
- Airframe hours: 15
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW-145-2 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dana L. Hussey
- Registered owner: Les Hussey
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: RIDGEWAY, VA
- Airport: NONE, Pace Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10 total, 10 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880329006829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880329006829A), Mar 29, 1988: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Ridgeway, VA, Destroyed. Attempting to land from a two foot taxi hover. Over controlled. Caused a dynamic rollover. Crashed. Post fire.

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.

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