# NTSB DEN88LA048: Rotorway Executive, N7007B, Colorado Spring, CO, January 9, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1988, 11:29 local (18:29 UTC)
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Coordinates: 38.820865, -104.699928 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8209&lon=-104.6999&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 16, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA048
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17434/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA048

## Sequence of events

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

- Vortex turbulence encountered, taxi - aerial
  - atc clearance - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, taxi - aerial
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT CONTACTED GROUND CONTROL & WAS CLEARED TO TAXI FROM A HANGAR ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ARPT TO A HANGAR ON THE NORTH END VIA TWY-A. TWY-A WAS LOCATED 400' WEST & PARALLEL TO RWY 17/35. THE PLT SAID HE WAS AIR TAXIING THE HELICOPTER JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE AT 3 TO 5 KTS WHEN AN AIR FORCE C-141 MADE A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING ON RWY 17. THE C-141 LIFTED OFF ABOUT 500 TO 1000 FT AHEAD OF THE HELICOPTER & WAS AT AN ESTD 50 TO 100 FT AGL WHEN IT PASSED ABEAM OF THE HELICOPTER'S PSN. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE HELICOPTER ENCTRD WAKE TURBULENCE FROM THE C-141. THE PLT TRIED TO COMPENSATE FOR PITCHING & ROLLING, BUT THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD & WAS DAMAGED. THE WIND WAS RPRTD FROM 130 DEG AT 5 KTS. THE PLT WAS CERTIFICATED FOR FIXED WING ACFT & WAS ENDORSED TO AIR TAXI THIS HELICOPTER, MAKE HOVER TURNS & FLY IN GROUND EFFECT BELOW TRANSLATION SPEED (15 KTS). THE ATC HANDBOOK DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS AIR TAXIING, BUT IT REQUIRED 3 MIN SEPN BHND A HVY JET DEPG OR MAKING A LOW/MISSED APCH ON THE SAME OR PARALLEL RWY W/I 2500'.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7007B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7007B-1998-09-30), registration cancelled 1998-09-30, S/N EXEC2924 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE
- Registry model: [Barthleson Jerry Leroy ROTORWAY EXC](https://openairdocs.org/model/barthleson-jerry-leroy-rotorway-exc) (registry code 13017AZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2924
- Airframe hours: 197
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW-152 152 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Barthleson, Jerry L.
- Registered owner: Jerry L Bartleson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: COS, Colorado Springs Muni

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 281 total, 31 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: COS

## 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 19880109000329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880109000329A), Jan 9, 1988: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Colorado Spring, CO, Destroyed. Wake turbulence from a landing C141 caused loss of control while aerial taxiing. ATC failed to advise of hazard.

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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