# NTSB CEN09CA290: Bolton Ricky D Rotorway E, N602DB, Brookeland, TX, May 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 10, 2009, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Brookeland, TX - Coordinates: 31.1525, -93.989723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1525&lon=-93.9897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73816 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA290 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73816/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73816 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA290 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain control while hovering in gusty conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=056274P), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that while hovering prior to takeoff from his private property, a gust of wind blew the experimental helicopter sideways. The right skid caught the ground and the pilot then pulled on the collective, "a little too hard." The helicopter tail rotor then hit a tractor and the left skid hit the ground. The helicopter rolled coming to rest on its left side. The pilot was not injured. The winds at a local airport 15 miles to the north were reported to be from 170 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots. ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that while hovering prior to takeoff from his private property, a gust of wind blew the experimental helicopter sideways. The right skid caught the ground and the pilot then pulled on the collective, "a little too hard." The helicopter tail rotor then hit a tractor and the left skid hit the ground. The helicopter rolled coming to rest on its left side. The pilot was not injured. The winds at a local airport 15 miles to the north were reported to be from 170 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 17 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N602DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602DB), registered now, S/N 6299, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOLTON RICKY D ROTORWAY E - Registry model: [Bennett David D ROTORWAY EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/bennett-david-d-rotorway-exec-162f) (registry code 056274P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6299 - Engines: AMA/EXPR RI 600N 147 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Brookeland, TX - Destination: Brookeland, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: Private Property ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 300 total, 27 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 12 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KJAS ## 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 20090510009539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090510009539A), May 10, 2009: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Brookeland, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On 05/10/2009 a approximately 2:00 pm local time the owner/pilot of N602DB was hovering in his rotorway exec on his personal properly. The pilot reported… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 2, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73816. 17 KB in all. - FAA Inspector Statement (item 1, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.