# NTSB MIA79FLG19: Scorpion TOO, N97521, Johns Island, SC, March 27, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 27, 1979
- Place: Johns Island, SC · JOHNS ISLAND, SC
- Location: 32.7924° N, 80.1081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Johns Island, SC, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7924&lon=-80.1081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 27, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137242
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA79FLG19
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA79FLG19

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2385  79/3/27  NR.JOHNS ISLAND,SC    SCORPION TOO        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 36, 61 TOTAL
        TIME - 1140                    N97521              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, ALL IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           PROPELLER/ROTOR FAILURE: PROPELLER                       IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           ROTORCRAFT - ROTOR ASSEMBLIES: TAIL ROTOR BLADES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N97521](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N97521-1982-01-14), registration cancelled 1982-01-14, S/N 10735 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SCORPION TOO
- Registry model: [Byrd SCORPION TOO](https://openairdocs.org/model/byrd-scorpion-too) (registry code 13025B2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19790327006259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790327006259A), Mar 27, 1979: Amtrrw SCORPION2, Johns Island, SC, Substantial damage. Tail rotor pivot pin A17-277 failed, causing loss of a tail rotor blade.

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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