# NTSB ERA23LA073: Childs Michael A Rotorway Exec 162-F, N8006A, Titusville, FL, November 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 27, 2022, 11:30, time zone not recorded - Place: Titusville, FL · on airport - Coordinates: 28.514806, -80.799222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5148&lon=-80.7992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106373/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106373 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA073 ## Probable cause A failure of the No. 4 exhaust valve spring retainer, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=05615YR), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05615YR), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05615YR), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05615YR), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dynamic rollover](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231); cases with it: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md?model=05615YR), [All aircraft, 161 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/231/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor, who was also the owner of the experimental amateur-built helicopter, said that shortly after takeoff, while about 150 ft above ground level, the helicopter’s engine lost partial power with “severe backfiring.” He declared an emergency, turned back to the airport, and landed on a grassy area. Upon touchdown, the helicopter’s front left skid dug into the grass and the helicopter rolled over. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the No. 4 exhaust valve spring retainer was missing. The engine maintenance manual required inspection of the valve train system, including the spring retainer, every 25 hours. A review of the engine maintenance logbook revealed that the flight instructor/owner had performed the 25-hour inspection about 8.8 hours before the accident. The reason for the separation of the valve spring retainer was not determined. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 2022, about 1130 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Rotorway Exec 162-F helicopter, N8006A, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near the Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX), Titusville, Florida. The flight instructor and the pilot trainee were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor, who also owned the helicopter, stated that shortly after takeoff, while about 150 ft above ground level, the engine lost partial power with “severe backfiring.” He declared an emergency, turned back to the airport, and landed on a grassy area. Upon touchdown, with a ground speed of 5-10 mph, the helicopter’s front left skid dug into the grass. The helicopter entered a dynamic rollover and came to rest on its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom and main rotor blades. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the No. 4 exhaust valve spring retainer was missing. Review of the engine maintenance manual revealed the valve train system including the spring retainer, was to be inspected every 25 hours. The manual stated, “Note the relative depth of the keeper set in each spring retainer. You may notice a slight variance on different valves, but no keeper set should be sunk deeply into a retainer. The important thing to look for is any change in the relative position of each keeper set. If you determine that a keeper set seems to be sinking deeper into its retainer, DO NOT continue to operate the engine.” A review of the engine logbook revealed that the instructor/owner performed the 25-hour inspection on October 11, 2022, about 8.8 hours before the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8006A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8006A), registered now, S/N 6708 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHILDS MICHAEL A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F - Registry model: [Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F](https://openairdocs.org/model/childs-michael-a-rotorway-exec-162-f) (registry code 05615YR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 6708 - Airframe hours: 763 - Engines: Rotorway A600T 167 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 11, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: TIX, Space Coast Regional, runway 9, 5,000 × 100 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,450 total, 404 in this make and model, 3,265 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,200 total, 45 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: TIX ## 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 20221127018209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221127018209A), Nov 27, 2022: Childs Michael A ROTORWAY EXEC 162-F, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. At approx. 11:27LCL at the Space Coast Regional Airport (ktix) Titusville, Florida, N8006A, a helicopter amateur experimental, rotorway exec 162-F, s/n 6708,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106373. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14819403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Written statement - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14809275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - NTSB summary of FAA inspector report (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14809048&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Summary%20of%20FAA%20Inspector%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 479 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14809132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Excerpts of maintenance records (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14809191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Page from rotorway maintenance manual (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16593454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pages%20from%20ri-600-maintenance-manual-2-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.