- Date
- May 2, 1990, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Indian Rks Bch, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N70319Williams, Robert G. AIR COMM. 532 Elite
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900502013239A
- Case key
- 32652
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
Loss of power due to the overheated engine caused by a separated liquid coolant line which allowed the coolant to drain, resulting in the forced landing.
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
During cruise flt about 500 ft offshore, the plt reported that the eng coolant & oil temperature began rising. He attempted to land on the beach but was unable, & landed just offshore. After touchdown, the main rotor mast separated. Exam of the eng revealed that a liquid coolant line separated from the radiator, due to vibration. This allowed the coolant to drain. According to an FAA inspector, there was no airworthiness certificate nor eng & acft logbooks. The plt held a student plt certificate but it nor his plt logbook was endorsed authorizing solo flt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N70319
- Reported as
- Williams, Robert G. AIR COMM. 532 Elite (AIR COMM.)
- Category
- Gyroplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0459
- Engine
- Rotax 532, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Williams, Robert G.
- Departed
- CLW · Clearwater, FL
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
- 72
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 100 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PIE, 8 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.
Other investigations on N70319 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.