# NTSB CHI03LA155: Sesin EXEC90, N8246J, Searcy, AR, June 8, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2003, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Searcy, AR - Coordinates: 35.209445, -91.668609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2094&lon=-91.6686&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57201/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA155 ## Probable cause The unqualified maintenance performed by the pilot and the inadequate autorotation by the pilot. A factor contributing to this accident was the overtemperature of the engine cooling system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - maintenance - performed, unqualified person (cause) - cooling system - overtemperature (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The helicopter impacted terrain during an autorotation following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported he received indications of an engine over temperature on a prior flight and upon landing saw that the belt driving the cooling system water pump had come off the pulley. He put the belt back on the pulley and ran up the engine while confirming that engine temperatures were within limits. The pilot noted he completed a normal takeoff after allowing the helicopter to hover for three to four minutes as he checked the engine temperature. The pilot stated the water temperature began rising rapidly during departure and the engine "immediately" began losing power. The pilot reported the engine lost power a few seconds later and he lowered the collective to begin an autorotation. The pilot noted the helicopter yawed to the right as he flared. The pilot stated the helicopter impacted the terrain, yawed 45 degrees to the right, and rolled over onto its left side. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2003, about 1600 central daylight time, an amateur built experimental Sesin EXEC90, N8246J, operated and piloted by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during autorotation near Searcy, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight departed from a private airstrip four miles east of Searcy, Arkansas, about 1515. The pilot reported he landed the helicopter after the water temperature gauge indicated an over-temperature condition. The pilot stated he saw the belt to the water pump had slipped off the pulley. He put the belt back on the pulley and ran up the engine while confirming engine temperatures were within limits. He hovered the helicopter for approximately three to four minutes and did not observe any problems with the engine temperature. The pilot stated he had completed a normal takeoff and climbed to 300 feet above ground level (agl) when he "noticed the water temperature rising rapidly." The helicopter "immediately" began loosing power, and he increased the engine throttle and the collective to maintain altitude. The pilot reported the engine failed a few seconds later and he began an autorotation. He veered to the northwest towards a clearing and began flaring 15 to 20 feet agl. The nose of the helicopter yawed right and he did not have enough tail rotor authority to control the helicopter. The helicopter hit the ground, yawed 45 degrees to the right, and rolled over onto its left side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8246J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8246J-2007-01-23), registration cancelled 2007-01-23, S/N 5148, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sesin EXEC90 - Registry model: [Sesin Dante E EXEC90](https://openairdocs.org/model/sesin-dante-e-exec90) (registry code 05628Q1) (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: 5148 - Airframe hours: 446 - Engines: Rotorway 152 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: PVT, Searcy, AR - Destination: PVT, Searcy, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 11, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 970 total, 78 in this make and model, 970 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: SRC, 4 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 20030608012499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030608012499A), Jun 8, 2003: Amtr EXEC90, Searcy, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 6, 2003, at approximately 1600 hours CDT, N8246J, a rotorway executive 90 experimental helicopter, was involved in an accident. It was discovered… 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.