# NTSB MIA99LA121: Frederick Sweet Rotorway Exec, N31788, Fort Myers, FL, April 8, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1999, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.670562, -81.759788 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6706&lon=-81.7598&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 46101
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46101/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA121

## Probable cause

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain aircraft control after the ground tie chain separated during engine run and hovering operations.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, hover - in ground effect
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,aircraft tie-down(s) - separation
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, hover - in ground effect
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The pilot stated he was running the aircraft's engine and hovering the helicopter while it was tied to the ground by a chain. The chain broke and he lost control of the helicopter. The helicopter rolled to the side and the main rotor collided with a tree.

## Factual narrative

On April 8, 1999, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Frederick Sweet Rotorway Exec, N31788, registered to an individual, collided with a tree while hovering at Fort Myers, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated he had chained the helicopter to the ground with a 2-foot-long chain. He only planned to hover the helicopter. He started the helicopter's engine and lifted the helicopter into a hover. The chain broke, the helicopter rolled to the side, and the main rotor contacted a palm tree. The helicopter then came to rest on its side.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N31788 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Frederick Sweet ROTORWAY EXEC (ROTORWAY E)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3855
- Engines: Rotorway 152 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard F. Ennis
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 4,615 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 5 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 19990408003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990408003389A), Apr 8, 1999: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Fort Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Experimental rotorway executive helicopter was hovering over the driveway of the pilot's home when the rotor struck a tree, the acft lost control, and the acft…

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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