# NTSB LAX02LA284: Siemens Rotorway Exec 162 F, N104BJ, Overgaard, AZ, September 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 13, 2002, 08:10 local (15:10 UTC) - Place: Overgaard, AZ - Coordinates: 34.391666, -110.533332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3917&lon=-110.5333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 5, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55697 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55697/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA284 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to check the wind direction prior to practicing autorotations, and his misjudged flare maneuver. The tailwind was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - wind information - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - autorotation - initiated, pilot in command - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown - dynamic rollover - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The helicopter sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and rollover after performing a practice autorotation. Due to excessive forward airspeed, the pilot aborted the maneuver. The application of the collective did not stop the descent. He committed to a full down autorotation and flared about 50 feet above ground level. As the helicopter contacted the ground, it pivoted on its right skid, and came to rest on its right side. Wind conditions were not checked prior to entering the autorotation, and he subsequently determined that he attempted it with a tailwind. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2002, at 0810 mountain standard time, a Siemens Rotorway Executive 162F helicopter, N104BJ, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and rollover after performing a practice autorotation at the Mogollon Airport (PVT), Overgaard, Arizona. The private pilot/owner operated the experimental helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local area personal flight originated from the Mogollon airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported practicing an autorotation. Due to excessive forward airspeed, he elected to abort the maneuver. The application of the collective did not stop the descent. He committed to a full down autorotation and flared about 50 feet above ground level (agl). As the helicopter contacted the ground, it pivoted on its right skid, and came to rest on its right side. Wind conditions were not checked prior to entering the autorotation, and he subsequently determined that he attempted it with a tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N104BJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N104BJ-2020-01-31), registration cancelled 2020-01-31, S/N 6194, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Siemens Rotorway Exec 162 F - Registry model: [Siemens Jim ROTORWAY EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/siemens-jim-rotorway-exec-162f) (registry code 05605EQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6194 - Airframe hours: 178 - Engines: Rotorway R162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jimmie Siemens - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 15, 2002, 22 hours before - Departed: AZ82, Overgaard, AZ - Destination: AZ82, Overgaard, AZ - Airport: PVT, Mogollon Airpark (PVT) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 10, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 1,987 total, 178 in this make and model, 1,987 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KSOW, 27 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 20020913022979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020913022979A), Sep 13, 2002: Amtr EXEC162F, Overgaard, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was practicing autorotations in the area of AZ82 (mogollon airpark) approx. 7.8 miles n.w. of the airport, he entered an autorotation @ approx. 500… ## Other investigations on N104BJ (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR14CA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA006), Oct 5, 2013: Siemens Rotorway Exec 162F (N104BJ), Nampa, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: A flight control malfunction during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined. No follow-up examination was conducted due to a lapse in agency funding and subsequent government shutdown. 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.