# NTSB FTW90DRD02: C&J Sontheimer Rotorway, N850JR, Lake Charles, LA, February 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 10, 1990, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Lake Charles, LA
- Coordinates: 30.210157, -93.200454 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2102&lon=-93.2005&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 10, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22979
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90DRD02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22979/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DRD02

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - rotor drive system,tail rotor drive shaft - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

AFTER THE HELICOPTER LEVELED OFF FOR CRUISE, THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE BELT FAILED. THE PILOT SAID IT STARTED TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, BUT THAT HE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL WITH THE A 1,500 FPM RATE OF DESCENT. HE SAID THAT EACH TIME HE TRIED TO INCREASE THE MAIN ROTOR RPM, THE HELICOPTER WOULD SPIN AGAIN. AS THE HELICOPTER APPROACHED GROUND LEVEL, HE ADDED POWER AND INCREASED THE COLLECTIVE, AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED TO SPIN, SO HE CHOPPED POWER TO SLOW THE SPIN, AND THEN LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE. AT TOUCHDOWN, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS SIDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N850JR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N850JR-1991-01-22), registration cancelled 1991-01-22, S/N 3122 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: C&J SONTHEIMER ROTORWAY
- Registry model: [Sontheimer C & J ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/sontheimer-c-j-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017DZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3122
- Airframe hours: 190
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW152D 152 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Phillip A. Guzzino
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1989, 47 hours before
- Departed: NONE, IOWA, LA
- Destination: NONE, LAKE CHARLES, LA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 209 total, 154 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LCH, 117 nm away

## 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 19900210001939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900210001939A), Feb 10, 1990: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Lake Charles, LA, Substantial damage. Tail rotor drive belt failed. Autorotated into a rice field. Impact caused sereve damage to main rotors.

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.

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