# NTSB ERA23LA183: Peterson Mark G Peterson A600, N272AM, Foley, AL, April 6, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 6, 2023, 12:10 local (17:10 UTC) - Place: Foley, AL · Open field. - Coordinates: 30.425255, -87.778801 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4253&lon=-87.7788&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - 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): 107020 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107020/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107020 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA183 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the disconnection of the turbocharger air intake hose and clamp, and the pilot’s inadequate servicing and preflight inspection of the turbocharger air intake clamp. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbocharging (recip only): turbocharger](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058120): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058120/cases.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058120/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631M6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built helicopter reported that he had hovered around the airport for about 20 minutes without issue and then initiated a takeoff to remain in the traffic pattern. During the initial climb, about 20 to 30 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly lost power and the helicopter yawed to the right. The pilot entered an autorotation and performed a run-on landing on a grass surface. During the landing, the right skid dug into uneven terrain, the helicopter rolled over onto its right side, and a post-crash fire quickly ignited. The pilot was able to extract himself from the helicopter without injury, however, the helicopter was destroyed by the post-impact fire. The pilot reported that after the accident, he discovered an undamaged turbocharger air intake hose clamp directly in his departure path in the grass. Photographs of the turbocharger revealed that the air intake clamp was not installed, and the intake hose had been consumed by fire. The pilot reported that about a week prior to the accident, while the helicopter was being transported on a trailer, he personally adjusted this clamp and intake hose, and he may have forgotten to tighten the clamp. During the initial climb, it is likely that the turbocharger intake hose and clamp separated from its installation area, and as a result, engine power was lost. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N272AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N272AM-2023-06-21), registration cancelled 2023-06-21, S/N 6600, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PETERSON MARK G PETERSON A600 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600](https://openairdocs.org/model/peterson-mark-g-peterson-a600) (registry code 05631M6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotorway RI-162F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-ri-162f) (registry code 55007, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6600 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 1150 - Engines: RotroWay A600T 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 19, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 2AL1, Collier Airpark - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; medical: basicmed; last flight review February 23, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,000 total, 7,900 in this make and model, 7,750 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: CQF, 5 nm away - METAR: KCQF 061715Z AUTO 12007KT 10SM BKN055 BKN065 27/20 A3019 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 20230406003949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230406003949A), Apr 6, 2023: Peterson Mark G PETERSON A600, Foley, AL, Destroyed. Pilot reports that he had just reassembled aircraft after transporting it from Florida. After completing a run-up in a low altitude hover for 20 minutes, pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107020. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15737821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15737954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20-%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 5 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15738388&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20-%20ERA23LA183-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.