# NTSB CHI06CA155: McFarland Rotorway Exec, N9164X, Mooresville, IN, June 17, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 17, 2006, 12:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Mooresville, IN
- Coordinates: 39.717498, -86.30194
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7175&lon=-86.3019&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64103
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA155
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64103/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA155

## Probable cause

An in-flight fire for undetermined reasons.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Fire, hover
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

The amateur-built helicopter was destroyed by a fire that began in-flight and continued on the ground after landing.  The flight instructor and dual student were not injured.  The instructor and dual student reported that the instructional flight consisted of practicing hovering.  They stated that approximately 20 minutes into the flight they thought they smelled smoke and decided to make a precautionary landing.  The pilots reported that once they landed, smoke was coming out of the engine compartment and the engine had stopped.  Both pilots exited the helicopter safely.  Subsequent efforts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful.  A post accident examination was unable to determine the source of the fire due to the extensive damage to the helicopter.

## Factual narrative

The amateur-built helicopter was destroyed by a fire that began in-flight and continued on the ground after landing.  The flight instructor and dual student were not injured.  The instructor and dual student reported that the instructional flight consisted of practicing hovering.  They stated that approximately 20 minutes into the flight they thought they smelled smoke and decided to make a precautionary landing.  The pilots reported that once they landed, smoke was coming out of the engine compartment and the engine had stopped.  Both pilots exited the helicopter safely.  Subsequent efforts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful.  A post accident examination was unable to determine the source of the fire due to the extensive damage to the helicopter.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9164X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9164X-2010-08-06), registration cancelled 2010-08-06, S/N 8601439, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McFarland Rotorway Exec
- Registry model: [Mcfarland Eddie R ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcfarland-eddie-r-rotorway-exec) (registry code 05611JI) (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: 8601439
- Airframe hours: 340
- Engines: Rotorway RI-162 reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: Both
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2005
- Departed: PVT, Mooresville, IN
- Airport: PVT, Private

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: right; flight hours: 3,100 total, 15 in this make and model, 3,100 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 49; injuries: none; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 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 20060617016099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060617016099A), Jun 17, 2006: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Mooresville, IN, Destroyed. (-23) Upon arrival at the accident site of 1181 west state road 39, Mooresville, IN, the aircraft was destroyed by fire. The instructor/pilot was giving dual…

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.