# NTSB MIA93LA189: Ferrie Ferri Exec, N71714, Delray Beach, FL, September 6, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1993, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Delray Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.450546, -80.079406 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4505&lon=-80.0794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37390 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37390/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA189 ## Probable cause The pilot-in-command's improper use of the flight controls (cyclic and collective) during a simulated autorotation, resulting in an in flight collision with terrain and subsequent roll over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - autorotation - simulated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Roll over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The private pilot was demonstrating an autorotation with power recovery to his passenger. The deceleration and initial collective pitch pull was late, and rotor rpm was low. The pilot lowered the collective pich to increase rotor rpm and the helicopter started spinning to the left. Right antitorque pedal was applied with negative results, and the helicopter continued to spin through 360 degrees. The pilot lowered collective pitch and the helicopter collided with the terrain and rolled over on its left side. The pilot stated he made no attempt to stop the rotation by increasing throttle before the helicopter collided with the terrain. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1993, at about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Ferrie Exec, Rotoway Kit, experimental helicopter, N71714, registered to Dean R. Ferrie, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while demonstrating an autorotation with power recovery. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a grass field adjacent to a private business in the vicinity of Delray Beach, Florida, about 19 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he had not flown the helicopter for about 3 months. He departed on a VFR flight at about 1200 hours and completed three takeoffs, three landings, and three autorotations before he returned to pick up a passenger for a local area flight. At about 1300, he was demonstrating an autorotation with power recovery to the passenger. He entered the maneuver at about 500 feet agl and assumed a 60 knot-attitude. A deceleration was initiated at about 35 to 40 feet agl. Initial collective pitch was applied at about 5 feet agl and the helicopter was leveled with cyclic. The pilot stated the rotor rpm was low so he lowered the collective pitch and the helicopter started spinning to the left. Right antitorque pedal was applied and the helicopter continued to spin to the left through 360 degrees. The pilot lowered the collective pitch and the helicopter collided with the terrain and rolled over on its left side. The pilot stated no attempt was made by the pilot to stop the rotation by increasing collective pitch prior to the helicopter colliding with the terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N71714](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71714-2004-09-27), registration cancelled 2004-09-27, S/N 90-06-101E (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ferrie FERRI EXEC - Registry model: [Ferrie Dean R FERRIE EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/ferrie-dean-r-ferrie-exec) (registry code 13017LD) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 90-06-101E - Airframe hours: 139 - Engines: ROTORWAY 152RW 152 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ferrie,Dean R. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 27, 1993, 13 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 7 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 19930906033009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930906033009A), Sep 6, 1993: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Delray Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Demostrating autorotation landing with power recovery. Allowed rotor RPM to decay. Began uncorrected spin. Rolled. 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.