# NTSB ERA22LA106: Charles C Menger JR Safari 400, N32CM, Gallatin, TN, January 12, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 12, 2022, 12:40 local (18:40 UTC) - Place: Gallatin, TN - Coordinates: 36.376971, -86.409559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3770&lon=-86.4096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - 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): 104521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA106 ## Probable cause A reported stuck throttle for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations and subsequent loss of control during hover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles C Menger JR SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=05637JW), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles C Menger JR SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637JW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Charles C Menger JR SAFARI 400, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=05637JW), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was performing the first flight after a condition inspection. He put the helicopter into a hover, noted the “throttle locked up and [the helicopter] got away” from him. The helicopter rolled onto its side and impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom. Furthermore, he reported an overspeed and “hard vibration” prior to the rollover. A post-accident examination of the helicopter revealed no evidence of any pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. In addition, the throttle governor was bench tested with no anomalies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32CM), registered now, S/N CM001, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHARLES C MENGER JR SAFARI 400 - Registry model: [Charles C Menger JR SAFARI 400](https://openairdocs.org/model/charles-c-menger-jr-safari-400) (registry code 05637JW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming YO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-yo-360-series) (registry code 42422, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: CM001 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 85 - Engines: Lycoming YO-360-EXP63 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: XNX, Music City Exec - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: XNX - METAR: KXNX 121735Z AUTO 21008G17KT 10SM CLR 10/M05 A3026 RMK A01 ## 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 20220112000579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220112000579A), Jan 12, 2022: Charles C Menger Jr SAFARI 400, Gallatin, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot launched from trailer, used to transport helicopter, from in front of hangar. Air taxied to ramp, Aircraft flight ended with helicopter laying on left… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104521. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N32CM_Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187295&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13186702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20FAA%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - bench test (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13186775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Color%20Bench%20Test%20Memo-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13187323&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA106-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.