# NTSB DEN04CA101: Whitlock Rotorway Exec 162F, N518W, Meeker, CO, July 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2004, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Meeker, CO - Coordinates: 40.083889, -107.851669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0839&lon=-107.8517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59608 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN04CA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59608/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN04CA101 ## Probable cause aircraft control not maintained by the pilot. A contributing factor was the failure of the supercharger. ## 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, cruise - normal - exhaust system,external supercharger - failure (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command - Roll over, emergency descent/landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that approximately 3 minutes after departing the airport, he heard a "loud squealing noise" from the engine and rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot initiated an autorotation at 1,200 feet agl and positioned the helicopter to land in a nearby field. The pilot stated that several feet off the ground he heard a "growling noise" and the helicopter "yawed to the right," approximately 70 degrees. The helicopter landed on the left skid and subsequently rolled onto its side causing substantial damage. According to the pilot, post accident examination revealed that the supercharger on the engine had failed. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2004, at approximately 1030 mountain daylight time, a Whitlock Rotorway Exec 162F, N518W, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during an autorotation 3 miles north of Meeker Airport (EEO), Meeker, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight originated at Meeker, Colorado, at 1027 and was en route to Craig, Colorado. According to the report submitted by the pilot, approximately 3 minutes after departing Meeker, he heard a "loud squealing noise" from the engine and rotor rpm began to decrease. The pilot initiated an autorotation at 1,200 feet agl and positioned the helicopter to land in a nearby field. The pilot stated that several feet off the ground he heard a "growling noise" and the helicopter "yawed to the right," approximately 70 degrees. The helicopter landed on the left skid and subsequently rolled onto its side. The main rotor, landing skids and tail boom bent during the impact. According to the pilot, post accident examination revealed that the supercharger on the engine had failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518W-2014-07-01), registration cancelled 2014-07-01, S/N 6618, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Whitlock Rotorway Exec 162F - Registry model: [Whitlock Guy E ROTORWAY EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/whitlock-guy-e-rotorway-exec-162f) (registry code 0561413) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6618 - Engines: Rotorway R1 162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guy E. Whitlock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EEO, Meeker, CO - Destination: Craig, CO - Airport: EEO, Meeker ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 5, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 372 total, 112 in this make and model, 298 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: EEO, 3 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 20040710012599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040710012599A), Jul 10, 2004: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Meeker, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Lost power at cruise and initiated autorotation. At approximately one foot above ground level, belt drive system made funny noise, aircraft yawed nearly… 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.