# NTSB CHI92DEM01: Rose Wesley Rotorway WR Exec, N6617L, Hudsonville, MI, April 18, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1992, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Hudsonville, MI
- Coordinates: 42.859634, -85.859718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8596&lon=-85.8597&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15237
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92DEM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15237/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92DEM01

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF AN INTAKE VALVE SPRING.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE LOW ALTITUDE AT WHICH THE AUTOROTATION WAS INITIATED AND THE SOFT TERRAIN ON WHICH THE HELICOPTER WAS LANDED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,valve,intake - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - altitude - unavailable, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command
  - landing gear,skid assembly - collapsed
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE EXPERIMENTAL HELICOPTER WAS CLIMBING OUT FROM TAKEOFF WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION.  THE HELICOPTER WAS 40 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE PILOT HAD TO INITIATE A FORCED LANDING.  AN AUTO ROTATION CONFIGURATION WAS ATTEMPTED BUT NOT FULLY ESTABLISHED DUE TO THE LOW INITIATING ALTITUDE.  THE HELICOPTER LANDED ONTO A SOFT FIELD AND ROLLED OVER AFTER ITS SKIDS DUG INTO THE SURFACE.  THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN INTAKE VALVE SPRING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6617L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6617L-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 10001, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROSE WESLEY ROTORWAY WR EXEC (ROTORWAY W)
- Registry model: [Rose Wesley A JR ROTORWAY WR EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/rose-wesley-a-jr-rotorway-wr-exec) (registry code 13017LH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotorway RW152](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-rw152) (registry code 55006, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 10001
- Airframe hours: 207
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW152/1947 152 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Rose, Wesley A. Sr.
- Registered owner: Rose, Wesley A. Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 1992, 15 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 130 in this make and model, 83 as pilot in command, 7.3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GRR, 15 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 19920418010419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920418010419A), Apr 18, 1992: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Hudsonville, MI, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on takeoff. Autorotated into hard landing. Skids were torn off. Rolled over. Broken valve spring.

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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