# NTSB ERA21LA332: Rotorway Exec 162, N162LR, Lindale, GA, August 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 18, 2021, 09:27 local (13:27 UTC) - Place: Lindale, GA · residence - Coordinates: 34.117249, -85.245628 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1172&lon=-85.2456&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103728/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103728 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA332 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper judgment of the helicopter’s height above ground during the landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing with forward airspeed and subsequent bounce and rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05615H4), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05615H4), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05615H4), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05615H4), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=05615H4), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during landing, he misjudged the helicopter’s height above the ground, started the flare to a hover “a little too late,” and the skids contacted the ground with forward speed. The helicopter landed hard, bounced, rolled over onto its right side and sustained substantial damage to the tail boom. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N162LR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N162LR-2023-07-10), registration cancelled 2023-07-10, S/N 6756, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROTORWAY Exec 162 - Registry model: [Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/real-luke-real-1-rotorway-162f) (registry code 05615H4) (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: 6756 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 237 - Engines: Rotorway RI162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 26, 2021, 26 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,500 total, 44 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: VPC, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KVPC 181335Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3018 RMK AO2= ## 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 20210818015019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210818015019A), Aug 18, 2021: Real Luke REAL 1 ROTORWAY 162F, Lindale, GA, Substantial damage. On August 18, 2021, approximately 093O, a pilot flying N162LR, an experimental amateur built helicopter was landing at his home when he misjudged the landing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103728. 13.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12710064&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-01%20NTSB%20form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 522 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12710452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-02%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Excerpt from pilot logbook (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12710850&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01-03%20Excerpt%20from%20Pilot%20Logbook_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12710364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06-01-%20photo%20array_ERA21LA332-Rel.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.