# NTSB BFO94LA098: Bellah Rotorway Executive, N727TB, Johnson City, NY, June 12, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1994, 16:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Johnson City, NY - Coordinates: 42.110378, -75.959121 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1104&lon=-75.9591&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 26, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8931/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA098 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. THIS LED TO A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND AN AUTOROTATION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal - rotor drive system - failure,total (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - aircraft control - not possible - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis THE HELICOPTER WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR EFFECTIVENESS OCCURRED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE APPLIED ANTI-TORQUE PEDAL WITH NO EFFECT. THE PILOT ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION AND THE HELICOPTER CONTINUED IN A SLOW SPIN TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE UTILIZED FULL UP COLLECTIVE JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, BUT THE HELICOPTER ROLLED ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE AFTER GROUND CONTACT AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT FAILED. THE PLIES ON THE BELT HAD SEPARATED. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT THE LAST INSPECTION, AND HAD ACCUMULATED 57.9 HOURS SINCE NEW. THE CHANGE-OUT TIME FOR THE BELT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY THAT PROVIDED THE KIT WAS 250 HOURS. A NEWER KEVLAR DRIVE BELT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPANY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. NO DISCREPANCIES OR UNRESOLVED OPEN ITEMS WERE FOUND IN THE MAINTENANCE LOG BOOKS. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1994, at 1620 eastern daylight time, N727TB, a Bellah Rotorway Executive home built helicopter, operated by the owner/pilot, impacted terrain in Johnson City, New York, and was substantially damaged during an uncontrolled descent. The descent was precipitated by a loss of control during cruise flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91, and departed from Norwich, New York. According to the pilot, the helicopter was in cruise flight at an altitude of 2,300 feet when a sudden loss of tail rotor effectiveness occurred. The pilot stated that he applied anti-torque pedal with no effect. The pilot entered an autorotation and advised air traffic control of his situation. The helicopter continued in a "...slow spin or spiral to the left." The pilot stated that he utilized full up collective which provided "good cushioning action," but the helicopter rolled onto its left side after ground contact. The main rotor blades, tail boom, landing skids, and fuselage frame were damaged. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector from Rochester, New York, an examination of the wreckage revealed that the forward tail rotor drive belt had failed. The belt was examined and its plies were separated and "shredded." The pilot reported that the belt had been replaced during the last annual inspection, and had accumulated 57.9 hours since new. The recommended change out time by the Rotorway International company for the belt was 250 hours. The pilot reported that the company subsequently recommended a new Kevlar-impregnated drive belt. No discrepancies or unresolved open items were found in the maintenance log books. ## Aircraft - Registration: N727TB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELLAH ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE (ROTORWAY E) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 3664 - Airframe hours: 274 - Engines: ROTORWAY 152 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Discovery Hedge, Inc. - Registered owner: Discovery Hedge, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 1993, 52 hours before - Departed: OIC, NORWICH, NY - Destination: N17, ENDICOTT, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 15,209 total, 130 in this make and model, 12,132 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 11 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BGM, 3 nm away ## 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 19940612016499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940612016499A), Jun 12, 1994: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Johnson City, NY, Substantial damage. Lost tail rotor control at cruise. Spiraled autorotation to ground. Rolled over. Tail rotor drive belt failed. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.