# NTSB FTW94LA248: Scorpion 133, N845H, Fredricksburg, TX, July 25, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1994, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Fredricksburg, TX
- Coordinates: 30.269124, -98.869239 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2691&lon=-98.8692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19121
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA248
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19121/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA248

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE THE GUSTY WIND AND THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT'S INADEQUATE TRAINING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS PRACTICING HOVERING HIS HOMEBUILT HELICOPTER. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF PRACTICE, THERE WAS A HARD TOUCHDOWN ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID. THE SKID COLLAPSED AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE GROUND. AT THAT TIME THE PILOT TURNED AND LOOKED BACK TOWARD THE TAIL ROTOR AND WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY A TAIL ROTOR BLADE. THE PILOT REPORTED WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 15 MILES PER HOUR, GUSTING TO 20. HE ALSO RELATED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE HELICOPTER WHILE HE WAS HOVERING ABOUT 18 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND.

## Factual narrative

On July 25, 1994, approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Scorpion 133, N845H, was substantially damaged during hovering operations at Fredricksburg, Texas. The non-certificated pilot was the owner, builder, and operator.  The pilot sustained serious injuries. Weather at the time of the accident was visual meteorological conditions.

Witnesses and family members reported that the pilot was practicing hover operations when he made contact with the ground. The first and second contact resulted in no damage; however, the third ground contact resulted in the left skid breaking and the tail rotor striking the ground.  Following the skid failure the pilot looked outside and to the rear of the aircraft to see what damage had occurred, at that time he was struck in the face by a tail rotor blade.  The strike resulted in the pilot sustaining serious injuries and a loss of consciousness.

The pilot reported wind from the south gusting to 20 miles per hour.  He further stated in his enclosed report that while hovering about 18 inches off the ground a gust of wind caught the aircraft.

The 13 year old daughter of the pilot observed the event.  When the skid collapsed the aircraft leaned over to the right, bringing the main rotor tip path close to the ground.  The engine continued to run after the pilot lost consciousness.  The daughter crawled under the main rotors and shut down the aircraft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N845H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N845H-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 8458, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCORPION 133
- Registry model: [Itri SCORPION TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/itri-scorpion-too) (registry code 13025D2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 8458
- Airframe hours: 4
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW133 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Itri, Donald
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 25, 1994, 36 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19940725019339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940725019339A), Jul 25, 1994: Amtrrw SCORPION2, Fredericksburg, TX, Substantial damage. No pilot license. Hovering homebuilt helicopter. Landed hard broke skid. Tail rotor hit ground. Blade hit pilot.

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.