# NTSB CEN15LA185: Giackino Donald W Rotorway 162F, N556DG, Marquette, MI, March 28, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 28, 2015, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Marquette, MI - Coordinates: 46.548053, -87.396942 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.5481&lon=-87.3969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90959 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90959/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90959 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA185 ## Probable cause The loss of helicopter control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056150G), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242); cases with it: [Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=056150G), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=056150G), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he planned on hovering in the helicopter to get some measurements using a vibration computer. After lifting off and entering a hover, the helicopter started to yaw left. The pilot applied the right pedal, but the yaw continued. While the pilot maneuvered the helicopter away from buildings, it entered a spin and then spun about six to eight times before a main rotor blade struck a tree. The pilot stated that there was only a light breeze and no wind gusts at the time of the accident. An examination of the tail rotor drive belts revealed that at least two of the three belts were not damaged. The reason for the loss of control could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2015, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a Rotorway 162F helicopter, N556DG, impacted terrain shortly after lifting off from a private helipad in Marquette, Michigan. The commercial rated pilot was not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was operating in a confined area and planned to hover, in order to get some measurements from a vibration computer. Just after bringing the helicopter to a hover, the helicopter started to yaw left, he applied right pedal, but the yaw continued. The pilot then tried to maneuver the helicopter away from buildings, but the helicopter entered into a spin. The pilot added that the helicopter spun at least 6-8 times before a main rotor blade struck a tree. The helicopter then impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the main rotor blades, fuselage, and tailboom. The pilot recalled there was only a slight breeze and no wind gusts. The Federal Administration Aviation (FAA) inspector did not do an on-site examination; however, the pilot inspected the tail rotor drive belts, and was able to determine that at least 2 of the 3 belts were not damaged. He was unable to determine the reason for the loss of tail rotor effectiveness ## Aircraft - Registration: [N556DG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N556DG-2018-12-06), registration cancelled 2018-12-06, S/N 6612 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GIACKINO DONALD W ROTORWAY 162F - Registry model: [Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/giackino-donald-w-rotorway-162f) (registry code 056150G) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6612 - Airframe hours: 27.5 - Engines: Rotorway 162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 28, 2015 - Departed: Marquette, MI - Destination: Marquette, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 917 total, 165 in this make and model, 798 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KSAW, 10 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 20150328003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150328003309A), Mar 28, 2015: Giackino Donald W ROTORWAY 162F, Marquette, MI, Substantial damage. On March 28, 2015 at 1400 EDT, a rotorway 162F amature built helicopter, N556DG was substantially damaged after impacting a tree and ground. The flight was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90959. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434046&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.