# NTSB DEN79DQD16: Helicom COMM11, N44JA, Carsbad, NM, August 27, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 27, 1979
- Place: Carsbad, NM · CARSBAD, NM
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133725
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79DQD16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DQD16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3351  79/8/27    CARSBAD,NM          HELICOM COMM11      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 29, 132
        TIME - 1910                    N44JA               PX-  0  0  0  TEST                      TOTAL HOURS, 8 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CAVERN CITY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CARSBAD,NM                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            LANDING: POWER-ON LANDING
           HARD LANDING                                             LANDING: POWER-OFF AUTOROTATIVE LANDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - TRANSMISSION ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N44JA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HELICOM COMM11
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Cavern City

## 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 19790827019339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790827019339A), Aug 27, 1979: Amtr COMMUTERH2, Carlsbad, NM, Substantial damage. Copter landed hard, short of landing area. Experienced engine overspeed and low rotor RPM due to slipping clutch.

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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