# NTSB BFO89DID02: Rotorway Exec, N27TB, Palmyra, VA, September 2, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 2, 1989, 17:40 local (21:40 UTC)
- Place: Palmyra, VA
- Coordinates: 37.860118, -78.259948 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8601&lon=-78.2599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11444
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89DID02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11444/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89DID02

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, AND FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing

## Analysis

THE ACFT TOOK OFF, TURNED RIGHT, AND THEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE ACFT LANDED HARD, CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE TAILBOOM. EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE PASSENGER STATED THE FUEL GAGES READ LESS THAN ONE-QUARTER FULL AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N27TB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27TB-1990-08-13), registration cancelled 1990-08-13, S/N 3273 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTORWAY EXEC
- Registry model: [Bryan Thomas W ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bryan-thomas-w-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017EX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3273
- Airframe hours: 140
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW152 152 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Thomas W. Bryan
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1987, 49 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 166 total, 166 in this make and model, 133 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19890902033389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890902033389A), Sep 2, 1989: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Palmyra, VA, Destroyed. Engine quit on climbout. Unsucessfull autorotation caused hard ground impact. Helicopter totaled. Ran out of fuel.

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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