- Date
- September 3, 2005, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Ida, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N20925West Revolution Mini 500
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Detroit FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050903027209A
- Case key
- 62633
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's abrupt (improper) control action which resulted in the main rotor contacting the tail boom. Contributing factors were the false indication provided by the engine tachometer, the pilot's decision to immediately initiate an autorotation instead of performing a precautionary landing, and the corn field encountered during landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the amateur-built helicopter was in cruise flight at 1,750 feet mean sea level when the main rotor contacted the tail boom. He stated that the engine tachometer began indicating near the high operating limit. At the same time the rotor tachometer was indicating near the low operating limit. His attempt to correct the condition was not successful. The pilot stated that he lowered the collective and the helicopter pitched forward. He reported that when he compensated for the forward pitch the main rotor blades struck the tail boom. He then turned into the wind and entered an autorotation. The pilot stated that a post accident examination revealed that the engine tachometer was providing false indications and improperly indicated an engine overspeed condition.
Factual narrative
This report is based on information received by the NTSB. Additional details may be found in the NTSB's public docket for this case. For further information, please contact the NTSB Office of Public Inquiries.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N20925
- Reported as
- West Revolution Mini 500
- Category
- Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0176
- Airframe hours
- 69.3
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 1, 2005 · 65.3 hours before
- Departed
- 86G · Petersburg, MI
- Airport
- 86G · Lada
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 103 total · 54 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.18 inHg
- Observed at
- TTF, 8 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.