# NTSB CHI06LA273: Daub Pawnee Chief, N565CH, McCook, NE, September 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2006, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: McCook, NE - Coordinates: 40.20639, -100.592224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2064&lon=-100.5922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64811 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64811/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA273 ## Probable cause The failure of a welded joint at a cyclic control cable bracket located on the main rotor mast which made control of the helicopter impossible for the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, hover - in ground effect - rotorcraft flight control,cyclic control - failure (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, hover - in ground effect - terrain condition - grass - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis The amateur built helicopter impacted the ground during a test flight following the failure of a welded joint at a cyclic control cable bracket resulting in a loss of control authority. A post impact fire ensued destroying the helicopter. The pilot reported he was in a low hover when the tail came up and the helicopter tilted. One of the skids subsequently caught the ground causing the helicopter to roll over. Examination of the helicopter revealed that a welded joint failed at a cyclic control cable bracket on the main rotor mast. Failure of the welded bracket caused the loss of input control authority from the cyclic control to the main rotor. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2006, about 1820 central daylight time, an amateur built Daub Pawnee Chief helicopter, N565CH, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the ground following a loss of flight control authority while hovering in ground effect at McCook Regional Airport (MCK), McCook, Nebraska. A post impact fire ensued. The test flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated from MCK about 1800. The pilot was conducting test flights in a low hover, three to four feet above the ground. The pilot stated that while hovering, the tail came up and one of the skids caught the ground. The helicopter subsequently rolled over. He noted that the ground consisted of tall grass and soft dirt. Post accident inspection of the helicopter revealed that a cyclic control cable bracket had separated from the main rotor mast at a welded joint. The bracket secured the end of the control cable shroud. The cable itself provided control authority from the cyclic to the main rotor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N565CH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N565CH-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N PC00002, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Daub Pawnee Chief - Registry model: [Daub Kenneth R PAWNEE CHIEF](https://openairdocs.org/model/daub-kenneth-r-pawnee-chief) (registry code 05620U4) (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: PC00002 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clear Horizons Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: MCK, McCook, NE - Airport: MCK, McCook Regional Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 2,700 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: MCK ## 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 20060928020169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060928020169A), Sep 28, 2006: Amtr PAWNEECHIEF, Mccook, NE, Destroyed. (-23) On September 28, 2006, approximately 18:19 central daylight time, an amateur-built helicopter, N565CH, rolled over during a hover. The pilot and a… 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.