# NTSB CHI01LA141: Parker Rotorway 162F, N311RM, Minneapolis, MN, May 16, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2001, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Minneapolis, MN - Coordinates: 45.189682, -93.549232 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1897&lon=-93.5492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 52333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52333/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA141 ## Probable cause The tail rotor drive belt coming off in cruise flight and it not being possible for the student pilot to maintain aircraft control during the emergency landing attempt. Factors relating to the accident were the loose bearing in the secondary drive unit to the tail rotor, the attempted autorotation and run on landing by the student pilot, and the low altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Rotor failure/malfunction, cruise - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft bearing - loose (contributing factor) - rotor drive system - other (cause) - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - run on landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot said that he was returning to Rogers, Minnesota, when he heard a "pop" and then the helicopter yawed left. The student pilot said that he lost pedal control and entered a turning autorotation. He said that at approximately 35 feet above the ground, he introduced some aft cyclic in an attempt to perform a run on landing. He said that the helicopter "spun violently to [the] right". The student pilot said he added full left [control pedal] and down cyclic. The helicopter dropped to the ground. An examination of the helicopter's belt drive system revealed that the lower shaft bearing in the secondary drive unit to the tail rotor was loose and the tail rotor drive belt had come off. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2001, at 1110 central daylight time, a Parker Rotorway 162F helicopter, N311RM, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted into a field 15 miles northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an emergency landing. Prior to the emergency landing attempt, the helicopter experienced a tail rotor malfunction. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The student pilot operating the helicopter reported no injuries. The local flight originated from the pilot's residence at Rogers, Minnesota, at 1045. In his written statement, the student pilot said that he was returning to Rogers, Minnesota, when he heard a "pop" and then the helicopter yawed left. The student pilot said that he lost pedal control and entered a turning autorotation. He said that at approximately 35 feet above the ground, he introduced some aft cyclic in an attempt to perform a run on landing. He said that the helicopter "spun violently to [the] right". The student pilot said he added full left [control pedal] and down cyclic. The helicopter dropped to the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the helicopter at the student pilot's residence. The inspector observed that both skids were collapsed, the tail boom was bent upward, the bottom vertical stabilizer was crushed upward, and the tail rotor was bent aft. Control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the helicopter's belt drive system revealed that the lower shaft bearing in the secondary drive unit to the tail rotor was loose and the tail rotor drive belt had come off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N311RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N311RM-2022-08-12), registration cancelled 2022-08-12, S/N 6271 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Parker Rotorway 162F - Registry model: [Parker Roger L ROTORWAY 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/parker-roger-l-rotorway-162f) (registry code 05605US) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6271 - Airframe hours: 77 - Engines: Rotorway 162 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William G. Glowacki - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2001, 77 hours before - Departed: ROGERS, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 590 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.70 inHg - Observed at: MIC, 6 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 20010516010929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010516010929A), May 16, 2001: Corcoran, MN, No damage. (-23)Pilot was in cruise at 600' AGL and heard a bang. The helicopter (experimental homebuilt) started to yaw. Pilot started to auto-rotate and at 40 ft. AGL… ## Other investigations on N311RM (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI98LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA206), Jun 17, 1998: Parker Rotorway 162-F (N311RM), Manchester, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot misjudged the flare. 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.