- Date
- July 20, 2004, 18:36 local (23:36 UTC)
- Place
- Conroe, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N342RDRotorway Exec
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040720022899A
- Case key
- 59701
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power due to the tripped fuel pump circuit breaker which resulted in the failure of the electric fuel pump.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The 400-hour pilot reported that while hovering approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl) at an airspeed of 20 miles per hour (mph), the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot initiated an autorotational landing to the ground. Examination of helicopter revealed the circuit breaker for the electric fuel pump was found "tripped." No other anomalies were noted throughout the engine or airframe. The pilot stated that the fuel injector system would not function without positive pressure from the fuel pump to the fuel injector.
Factual narrative
On June 20, 2004, approximately 1836 central daylight time, an amateur-built Rotorway Exec single-engine helicopter, N432RD, was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a loss of engine power while hover-taxiing at the Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO), near Conroe, Texas. The helicopter student pilot sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the student pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The 400-hour pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, that while hovering approximately 20 feet above ground level (agl) at an airspeed of 20 miles per hour (mph), the engine lost power. Subsequently, the pilot initiated an autorotational landing to the ground.
Examination of the helicopter by the FAA inspector revealed the tailboom was separated from the fuselage. The circuit breaker for the electric fuel pump was found in the "tripped" position. No other anomalies were noted throughout the engine or airframe. The pilot stated that the fuel injector system would not function without the positive pressure from the fuel pump to the fuel injector.
A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N342RD
- Reported as
- Rotorway Exec
- Category
- Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 4162
- Airframe hours
- 65
- Engine
- Mazda UNK, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Conroe, TX
- Airport
- CXO · Lone Star Executive Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Last flight review
- March 18, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 400 total · 6 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.