# NTSB CHI08CA105: Schultz Mini 500, N62GS, Batavia, OH, April 6, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 6, 2008, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Batavia, OH
- Coordinates: 39.067779, -84.200836
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0678&lon=-84.2008&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Cincinnati, Ohio
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67972
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67972/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA105

## Probable cause

The failure of the helicopter's centrifugal clutch during hover which led to the pilot's inability to maintain control of the craft and its subsequent impact with the ground.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schultz George E MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05601WL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Main rotor drive: main rotor gearbox](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046320): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Schultz George E MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046320/cases.md?model=05601WL), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046320/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-hover: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Schultz George E MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05601WL), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Schultz George E MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05601WL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was air taxiing his homebuilt helicopter when the centrifugal clutch failed and the helicopter abruptly descended into the ground.  The helicopter struck its right skid and then rolled onto its side.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was air taxiing his homebuilt helicopter when the centrifugal clutch failed and the helicopter abruptly descended into the ground.  The helicopter struck its right skid and then rolled onto its side.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N62GS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N62GS-2008-06-09), registration cancelled 2008-06-09, S/N 36, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Schultz Mini 500
- Registry model: [Schultz George E MINI 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/schultz-george-e-mini-500) (registry code 05601WL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 36
- Engines: Rotax 582 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: I69, Batavia, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; flight hours: 2,950 total, 150 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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