# NTSB FTW03LA018: Carriere RW-152 Scorpion II, N838MC, Opelousas, LA, October 19, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 19, 2002, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Opelousas, LA - Coordinates: 30.558332, -92.099166 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5583&lon=-92.0992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Baton Rouge, Louisiana - NTSB case key (mKey): 55890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55890/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind resulting in a loss of control. A contributing factor was the gusting wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis A homebuilt helicopter was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while landing. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a maintenance test flight to verify the balance and tracking of the main rotor system after lead/lag adjustments were made. The student pilot stated that upon return from the successful flight, he lost control of the aircraft after encountering a gust of wind. The helicopter spun approximately 20 times to the right, and the rotor blades contacted the ground. The pilot stated that the wind direction was 180 degrees and the wind speed was 35 knots at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2002, at 1420 central daylight time, a Carriere RW-152 Scorpion II homebuilt helicopter, N838MC, was substantially damaged upon impact with terrain following a loss of control while landing near Opelousas, Louisiana. The student pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from a private field at 1330. The pilot reported that some work had been performed on the main rotor head at the factory. The pilot installed new elastomeric bearing blocks and re-installed the rotor blades. The pilot ran the helicopter to smooth-out the rotor system prior to taking the helicopter on a flight to verity the balance and tracking of the main rotor system after all lead/lag adjustments were made. The pilot hovered the helicopter over the fence into a nearby field where he hovered and flew (at 10 feet or below) across the field for about 30 minutes. The pilot reported that the selected field was surrounded by tall trees, and he failed to notice the approaching inclement weather. The pilot elected to terminate his flight and return to the private field for a full-stop landing. The pilot climbed the helicopter to about 30 feet above the ground in order to clear some trees when a "gust of wind blew from the passenger side and made the helicopter start to spin to the right." The helicopter spun approximately 20 times to the right, the rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The student pilot had accumulated 90.2 hours in the accident helicopter. Examination of the helicopter by the pilot revealed that both main rotor blades were structurally damaged, the main drive transmission drive shaft was bent, the cabin was distorted and fractured, and the tailboom was bent. The left main landing gear skid was found collapsed. The pilot estimated the wind was from 180 degrees at 35 knots, at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N838MC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N838MC-2013-06-05), registration cancelled 2013-06-05, S/N RW-2827 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Carriere RW-152 Scorpion II - Registry model: [Carriere Michael L RW-133](https://openairdocs.org/model/carriere-michael-l-rw-133) (registry code 13025CP) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: RW-2827 - Airframe hours: 190 - Engines: Rotorway RW-152 152 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert F. Moreau Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 19, 2002, 1 hours before - Departed: Opelousas, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total, 20 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 35 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20021019031369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021019031369A), Oct 19, 2002: Amtr SCORPION*, Opelousas, LA, Destroyed. (-23) During landing the pilot experienced a 25 knot gust of wind. The pilot lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter then started spinning. The… 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.