# NTSB MIA92LA082: Burch Rotorway Exec, N618VN, Lakeland, FL, February 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 9, 1992, 15:55 local (20:55 UTC)
- Place: Lakeland, FL
- Coordinates: 27.980863, -82.010765 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9809&lon=-82.0108&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33063/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92LA082

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER APPLICATION OF CYCLIC AND COLLECTIVE PITCH CONTROL DURING AN AUTOROTATIVE LANDING. THIS RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING, COLLISION OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES WITH THE TAILBOOM, AND SUBSEQUENT ROLL OVER OF THE HELICOPTER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER CAUSED BY A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBY EXHAUST VALVE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING IN VFR CONDITIONS WHEN THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT ENTERED AUTOROTATION. AT 30-40 FEET AGL A DECELERATION WAS INITIATED AND COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED AT 3-7 FEET AGL. THE HELICOPTER TOUCHED DOWN HARD WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES COLLIDED WITH THE TAILBOOM. THE HELICOPTER SKIDDED FORWARD AND THE TIP OF THE LEFT SKID BECAME IMBEDDED IN A MOUND OF DIRT. THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS LEFT SIDE SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME BY THE FAA AND THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT REVEALED THE LEFT SKID SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AT THE WELD JOINT ON THE SKID SUPPORT STRUT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FOR ROTORWAY INTERNATIONAL FOR THE REGISTERED OWNER REVEALED AN EXHAUST VALVE ON THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HAD FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N618VN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N618VN-2000-10-25), registration cancelled 2000-10-25, S/N 3480 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BURCH ROTORWAY EXEC (ROTORWAY E)
- Registry model: [Burch Jeffrey D ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/burch-jeffrey-d-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017HC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3480
- Airframe hours: 255
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW152 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald W.Case
- Registered owner: Ronald W.Case
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 9, 1992, 3 hours before
- Airport: LAL, Lakeland Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,074 total, 34 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PIE, 38 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 19920209002429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920209002429A), Feb 9, 1992: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Lakeland, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on approach. Autorotated to run on landing. Skid hit dirt mound,helicopter rolled. NR2 exhaust valve.

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.