# NTSB DEN08LA038: Rotorway Exec 162-F, N46110, New Century, KS, November 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 13, 2007, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: New Century, KS - Coordinates: 38.830833, -94.890274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8308&lon=-94.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67201 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67201/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA038 ## Probable cause While on approach the tail rotor spar failed due to metal fatigue . ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - rotor system,tail rotor blade spar - vibration - rotor system,tail rotor blade spar - fatigue (cause) - rotor system,tail rotor blade spar - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot was doing hovering maneuvers at the end of the runway. He was cleared for a left pattern to return to the end of the runway. On final approach he felt a "moderate vibration" in the tail rotor, and elected to autorotate to a farm field adjacent to airport property rather than try to clear surrounding trees and fences. The helicopter landed hard, flexing the landing gear. The pilot later reported a spar in one of the tail rotor blades had failed due to metal fatigue. ## Factual narrative On November 13, 2007, at 0912 central standard time, a Rotorway Exec 162-F, N46110, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an off-airport landing while on approach to New Century Aircenter (IXD), New Century, Kansas. 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 pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The local flight had just originated. According to the pilot's accident report, he was doing hovering maneuvers at the end of runway 22, He was cleared for a left pattern to return to the end of the runway. On final approach he felt a "moderate vibration" in the tail rotor, and elected to autorotate to a farm field adjacent to airport property rather than try to clear surrounding trees and fences. The helicopter landed hard, flexing the landing gear. On January 25, 2008, the pilot was interviewed via telephone. He said a spar in the tail rotor blade had failed due to metal fatigue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46110](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N46110), registered now, S/N 6850, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rotorway Exec 162-F - Registry model: [Rotorway International EXEC 162-F](https://openairdocs.org/model/rotorway-international-exec-162-f) (registry code 056145U) (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: 6850 - Airframe hours: 127 - Engines: 146 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald B. Eikel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 1, 2007, 127 hours before - Departed: IXD, New Century, KS - Destination: IXD, New Century, KS - Airport: IXD, New Century Aircenter, runway 22, 5,130 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: IXD ## 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 20071113827129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071113827129A), Nov 13, 2007: Amtr EXEC162F, Olathe, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) During the downwind approach phase of the flight at 500 feet AGL, the pilot felt what he believed to be a medium to high frequency vibration. At that… 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.