# NTSB CHI07CA215: Rotorway 162F, Heart, ND, July 16, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 16, 2007, 17:11 local (23:11 UTC)
- Place: Heart, ND
- Coordinates: 46.819721, -103.10083
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8197&lon=-103.1008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Fargo, ND FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66462
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA215
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66462/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA215

## Probable cause

The pilot inadvertently shut off the fuel pump switch which resulted in fuel starvation and the subsequent loss of engine power.  An additional cause was the pilot's poorly executed autorotation/flare which resulted in a hard landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fuel system - inadvertent deactivation, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The helicopter was involved in a hard landing during an autorotation following a loss of engine power.  The pilot reported that during the flight, while drinking from a water bottle, the bottle contacted the overhead electric fuel pump switch.  The switch was knocked to the off position, resulting in the loss of engine power.  The pilot stated that he entered an autorotation.  He said he realized that he had contacted the switch, but by that time he was already committed to land.  The pilot reported, "...the auto was poorly executed at the bottom end, resulting in a hard landing."  He reported that during the landing, the rear landing gear collapsed and the main rotor blades struck the tailboom.

## Factual narrative

The helicopter was involved in a hard landing during an autorotation following a loss of engine power.  The pilot reported that during the flight, while drinking from a water bottle, the bottle contacted the overhead electric fuel pump switch.  The switch was knocked to the off position, resulting in the loss of engine power.  The pilot stated he entered an autorotation.  He said he realized that he had contacted the switch, but by that time he was already committed to land.  The pilot reported, "...the auto was poorly executed at the bottom end, resulting in a hard landing."  He reported that during the landing, the rear landing gear collapsed and the main rotor blades struck the tailboom.

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFYAR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Rotorway 162F
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 6212
- Engines: Rotorway 162 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Russell A. Yard
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 20V, Beach, ND
- Destination: DIK, Dickenson, ND
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 1; flight hours: 3,000 total, 122 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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.

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