# NTSB BFO92LA155: Troy Bellah Rotorway Executive, N727TB, Endicott, NY, September 17, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 17, 1992, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Endicott, NY
- Coordinates: 42.130172, -76.08052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1302&lon=-76.0805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11859/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA155

## Probable cause

THE PILOT DID NOT ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotor system,tail rotor blade - disintegrated
  - landing gear,skid assembly - collapsed

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS FROM A HOVER ONTO A DOLLY WHICH WAS ABOUT 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE PILOT STATED HE TOUCHED THE HELICOPTER DOWN TOO FAR AFT ON THE DOLLY. HE SAID HE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IN FULL UP-COLLECTIVE CONTROL BUT THE TAIL SKID HAD ALREADY CONTACTED EITHER THE DOLLY OR THE RAMP.  THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES DISINTEGRATED.  HE SAID THE HELICOPTER WENT THROUGH A 360-DEGREE SLOW TURN DUE TO LACK OF TAIL ROTOR TORQUE CONTROL AND UPON TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT SKID BENT 45 DEGREES FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION DUE TO THE SIDEWARD FORCE.  THE PILOT STATED THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO INITIAL IMPACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N727TB (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: TROY BELLAH ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (ROTORWAY E)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3664
- Airframe hours: 142
- Engines: Rotorway 152 152 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David E. Hause
- Registered owner: David E. Hause
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1992, 9 hours before
- Airport: N17, Tri-Cities

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,034 total, 15 in this make and model, 12,959 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °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 19920917044249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920917044249A), Sep 17, 1992: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Endicott, NY, Substantial damage. Practice hover landings on a dolly. Tail hit dolly severing rotor blade. Spun 360 degrees and impacted sideways.

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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