# NTSB DFW08CA147: Dowell Vaughn Exec 90, N6032C, Lafayette, CO, May 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2008, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, CO - Coordinates: 40.017223, -105.079719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0172&lon=-105.0797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA, FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68036 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68036/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA147 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight decision to continue flight after experiencing a loss of rotor RPM. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's low level of experience in helicopters and the leaking oil from the engine oil filler cap. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056216Y), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=056216Y), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=056216Y), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Main rotor drive](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md?model=056216Y), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056216Y), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated during a telephonic interview that he was hovering in an open field adjacent to the airport, when he began to lose rotor RPM. He landed briefly to investigate why the helicopter was not flying properly. He then decided to hover taxi back to his hangar and was trying to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed into the wind. While hovering with a slight right crab over a freshly plowed field the helicopter settled, the right skid contacted the soft terrain, and rolled onto the right side. The pilot stated that the loss of rotor RPM was the result of the loose engine oil cap that sprayed engine oil on the main rotor system drive belts. The helicopter main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom were substantially damaged. There was no post-crash fire and the pilot reported no injuries. Weather was reported at the time as winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 30 miles with few clouds at 7,000 feet and a temperature of 72 degrees. ## Factual narrative The private pilot stated during a telephonic interview that he was hovering in an open field adjacent to the airport, when he began to loose rotor RPM. He landed briefly to investigate why the helicopter was not flying properly. The pilot then decided to hover taxi back to his hangar and was trying to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed into the wind. While hovering with a slight right crab over a freshly plowed field the helicopter settled, the right skid contacted the soft terrain, and rolled onto the right side. The pilot stated that the loss of rotor RPM was the result of the loose engine oil cap that sprayed engine oil on the main rotor system drive belts. The helicopter main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, fuselage, and tail boom were substantially damaged. There was no post-crash fire and the pilot reported no injuries. Weather was reported at the time as winds from 020 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 30 miles with few clouds at 7,000 feet and a temperature of 72 degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6032C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6032C-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N VXH01 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dowell Vaughn Exec 90 - Registry model: [Dowell Vaughn EXEC-90](https://openairdocs.org/model/dowell-vaughn-exec-90) (registry code 056216Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: VXH01 - Airframe hours: 750 - Engines: Rotorway RI 162 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 48V, ERIE, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KEIK, Erie Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 1,635 total, 30 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KBJC, 7 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 20080517834399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080517834399A), May 17, 2008: Amtr EXEC90, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he hovered to the open field from the airport. Pilot stated he had landed on a dirt access road to investigate why the helicopter was… 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.