# NTSB CEN11LA305: D & D Rotorway Exec, N614S, Massillon, OH, April 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 2011, 15:41 local (19:41 UTC) - Place: Massillon, OH - Coordinates: 40.796943, -81.52111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7969&lon=-81.5211&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-CLE-FSDO, FA-CLE-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78968 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78968/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78968 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA305 ## Probable cause The excessive wear on the secondary shaft, from the inner bearing race, which resulted in the transmission clutch disengagement and a loss of power to the rotor system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor drive](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [D & D ROTORWAY EXEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md?model=13017GQ), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [D & D ROTORWAY EXEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=13017GQ), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [D & D ROTORWAY EXEC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=13017GQ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine speed increased to a high rpm and power was no longer being transmitted to the rotor system. He initiated an autorotation to a sloping, plowed field that was soft due to recent rain. The tail struck the ground during the landing flare and the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter revealed the inner race of the bearing on the secondary shaft, located above the transmission clutch, was worn into the shaft, which most likely caused the clutch to disengage. This prevented the engine power from being translated to the main rotor. The cause of the wear was undetermined, and the secondary shaft was designed by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 2011, at 1541 eastern daylight time, a D&D Aircraft Rotorway Exec, N614S, an experimental, amateur built helicopter, collided with the terrain during an off airport forced landing in Massillon, Ohio. The pilot received a minor injury while exiting the helicopter. The helicopter received substantial damage. The personal flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from a private field in Massillon, Ohio. The pilot reported that during cruise flight the engine speed increased to a high rpm and the power was no longer being transmitted through to the rotor system. He initiated an autorotation to a sloping, plowed field that was soft due to recent rain. The tail struck the ground during the landing flare and the main rotor blades contacted the tailboom. The helicopter rolled over due to the downward slope and the soft terrain. Postaccident inspection of the helicopter by the pilot/builder and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the inner race of the bearing on the secondary shaft, located above the transmission clutch, was worn into the shaft. The secondary shaft was designed by the pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N614S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N614S), registered now, S/N 3298, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: D & D AIRCRAFT ROTORWAY EXEC - Registry model: [D & D ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/d-d-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017GQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotorway RW152](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-rw152) (registry code 55006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 3298 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: ROTORWAY RW152 152 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dubert Jay - Registered owner: Dubert Jay - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 19, 2011, 15 hours before - Departed: 2D7, Beach City, OH - Destination: Massillon, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 516 total, 73 in this make and model, 384 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 21 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,600 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 11 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 20110423009559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110423009559A), Apr 23, 2011: D & D Aircraft ROTORWAY EXEC, Massillon, OH, Substantial damage. Cruise at 2000' MSL 2 miles south of wayne county airport the pilot said the engine went through 10,000 RPM he than auto rotaed into a corn field which was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78968. 581 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.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.