# NTSB DFW08CA152: Rotorway 162F, N771SS, Gonzales, TX, May 24, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2008, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Gonzales, TX - Coordinates: 28.530555, -97.456665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5306&lon=-97.4567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68084/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA152 ## Probable cause failure of the main rotor drive belt for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Main rotor drive](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Summers Robert B 162F ROTORWAY KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046300/cases.md?model=05618GI), [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. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Summers Robert B 162F ROTORWAY KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05618GI), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Summers Robert B 162F ROTORWAY KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05618GI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and his passenger had just departed in a single-engine experimental helicopter when he heard a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot entered an autorotation from an altitude of 75 feet and flared at approximately 40 feet above the ground to avoid hitting trees. The helicopter landed hard in a grass field and the skids were spread upon impact. The two occupants were able to deplane before the engine exhaust caught the surrounding grass on fire, and subsequently destroyed the helicopter. The pilot reported that the main drive belt, which he had been recently replaced, had failed. The helicopter wreckage was examined by an FAA inspector; however, the drive belt could not be located and it was assumed to have been destroyed in the post-impact fire. ## Factual narrative The private pilot and his passenger had just departed in a single-engine experimental helicopter when he heard a "loud pop" followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot entered an autorotation from an altitude of 75 feet and flared at approximately 40 feet above the ground to avoid hitting trees. The helicopter landed hard in a grass field and the skids were spread upon impact. The two occupants were able to deplane before the engine exhaust caught the surrounding grass on fire, and subsequently destroyed the helicopter. The pilot reported that the main drive belt, which he had been recently replaced, had failed. The helicopter wreckage was examined by an FAA inspector; however, the drive belt could not be located and it was assumed to have been destroyed in the post-impact fire. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N771SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N771SS-2012-08-13), registration cancelled 2012-08-13, S/N 6174, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rotorway 162F - Registry model: [Summers Robert B 162F ROTORWAY KIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/summers-robert-b-162f-rotorway-kit) (registry code 05618GI) (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: 6174 - Engines: Rotorway 162F reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jonathan Houser - Registered owner: Frank and Beverly Thomas - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: T20, Gonzales, TX - Destination: Gonzales, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; medical: class 2; flight hours: 111 total, 21 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080524839449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080524839449A), May 24, 2008: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Gonzales, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On 05/24/2008 at 2011Z, N771SS a experimental 162F rotorway, s/n 6174, operated by [privacy data omitted], a private pilot certificate number [privacy… 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.