# NTSB ERA10LA216: Smith Richard D JR Revolution Mini 500, N118NR, Middleboro, MA, April 7, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2010, 16:22 local (20:22 UTC) - Place: Middleboro, MA - Coordinates: 41.904445, -70.952224 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9044&lon=-70.9522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75680 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75680/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75680 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA216 ## Probable cause A loss of engine coolant, which resulted in a loss of engine power during the pilot’s attempt to cushion a precautionary landing. Contributing to the accident was a disconnected engine coolant hose and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: coolant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025/cases.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Misc hardware: hoses and tubes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 40 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05606OS), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a 50-minute flight the helicopter pilot observed the engine coolant temperature and the exhaust gas temperature increase. The pilot attempted a precautionary landing to a field; however, as he was adding power to cushion the landing, the engine lost power due to overheating. The helicopter then landed hard and rolled over. Postflight examination of the helicopter revealed that a coolant hose was disconnected and corrosion was noted on the radiator fins, indicating that leakage had occurred over a period of time. No coolant or coolant residue was found during the engine examination. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2010, about 1622 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Revolution Mini 500, N118NR, impacted the ground during a precautionary landing near Middleboro, Massachusetts. The certificated commercial pilot was uninjured, and the helicopter sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated at Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM), Plymouth, Massachusetts, at 1540. The pilot stated that while he was in cruise flight, he noticed that the water coolant temperature began to increase, followed by an increasing exhaust gas temperature. He elected to perform a precautionary landing in a field, and as he "pulled pitch to cushion the landing," the engine lost power due to overheating. The helicopter then landed hard and rolled over. Examination of the helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that it came to rest in a field. The right skid was buckled and the tail boom was severed from the fuselage. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit through the tail rotor system and from the cockpit cyclic and collective controls. Examination of the engine compartment revealed that a coolant hose leading from the coolant expansion tank to the engine block was disconnected. The water pump housing was removed from the engine and there was no coolant observed or liquid residue in the water pump housing. No traces or stains of coolant were observed in engine compartment or on the outside of the fuselage, however corrosion was observed on the radiator fins. The helicopter was stored in a hanger and previously flown on December 18, 2009, for 1.4 hours and again on March 27, 2010, for 1.3 hours with no mechanical anomalies indicated in the aircraft logbooks. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N118NR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118NR-2014-10-14), registration cancelled 2014-10-14, S/N 0118, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMITH RICHARD D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500 - Registry model: [Smith Richard D JR REVOLUTION MINI 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-richard-d-jr-revolution-mini-500) (registry code 05606OS) (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: 0118 - Airframe hours: 43 - Engines: Rotax 582 67 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Smith Richard David Jr - Registered owner: Smith Richard David Jr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PYM, Plymonth, MA - Destination: PYM, Plymouth, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2008; seat: center; flight hours: 526 total, 43 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 12 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: TAN, 10 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 20100407005019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100407005019A), Apr 7, 2010: Smith Richa REVOLUTION, Middleboro, MA, Destroyed. N118NR was on a local VFR flight, departing pym at approximately 1500L and proceeded to the vicinity of the tan airport at wich time the PIC decided to return… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75680. 639 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 590 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Record of Conversation LA216 (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Record%20of%20Conversation%20LA216-Master.PDF 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.