# NTSB NYC04LA079: Geoffrion Rotorway Exec 162, N198BG, Medina, OH, February 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 29, 2004, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Medina, OH - Coordinates: 41.123889, -81.861946 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1239&lon=-81.8619&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58835 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58835/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA079 ## Probable cause A failure of the helicopter's tail rotor drive system for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - rotor system,tail rotor - undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The amateur built helicopter was in cruise flight at an altitude 1,100 feet above the ground, when the pilot heard a pop and loud bang. He immediately initiated an autorotation and felt that he had the helicopter under control, until it began to pitch down. Due to strong vibrations, the pilot was not able to read any of the instruments, including rotor RPM. The helicopter struck trees and came to rest in a residential area. During the impact, a main rotor blade struck the tail boom in the area of the horizontal stabilizer. Examination of the helicopter revealed that the tail boom was severed, the tail rotor drive pulley was split in half, the tail rotor drive belts were broken, and the third bulkhead was fractured into several pieces. All of the main rotor drive belts and pulleys remained attached. Continuity of the cyclic and collective controls was confirmed; and no engine abnormalities were noted. One tail rotor blade was severed at the pitch pin. Both tail rotor blades exhibited dents; however, they did not display the rearward bending of spar and skin that would be consistent with blade rotation at impact. Due to the impact damage, the pre-impact condition of the tail rotor drive system could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On February 29, 2004, about 1300 eastern standard time, an amateur built Rotorway Exec 162, N198BG, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Medina, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was flying at an altitude of 1,100 feet above the ground, and an airspeed of 105 mph, when he heard a pop and loud bang. He immediately initiated an autorotation and felt that he had the helicopter under control, until it began to pitch down. Due to strong vibrations, the pilot was not able to read any of the instruments, including rotor RPM. The pilot stated he tried everything he could think of to get control of the helicopter without using any large control inputs. The helicopter struck trees and came to rest in a residential area. The pilot of a Robinson helicopter who was flying behind, and to the left of the Rotorway, stated he observed the helicopter begin a rapid, steep decent. He did not observe anything separate from the helicopter. The helicopter was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, with assistance of a representative from Rotorway. During the impact, a main rotor blade struck the tail boom in the area of the horizontal stabilizer. The tail boom was severed, the tail rotor drive pulley was split in half, the tail rotor drive belts were broken, and the third bulkhead was fractured into several pieces. All of the main rotor drive belts and pulleys remained attached. Continuity of the cyclic and collective controls was confirmed; and no engine abnormalities were noted. One tail rotor blade was severed at the pitch pin. Both tail rotor blades exhibited dents; however, they did not display the rearward bending of spar and skin that would be consistent with blade rotation at impact. Due to the impact damage, the pre-impact condition of the tail rotor drive system could not be determined. According to a Rotorway representative, the helicopter was originally equipped with a ground adjustable horizontal stabilizer. When adjusted properly, the nose of the helicopter should rise when entering an autorotation, regardless of the helicopter's forward speed. The accident helicopter was equipped with an after market horizontal stabilizer trim system, which allowed up to 40 degrees of trim. Due to impact damage, the position of the horizontal stabilizer could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N198BG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198BG-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 1, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Geoffrion Rotorway Exec 162 - Registry model: [Geoffrion Brian ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/geoffrion-brian-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017KX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Rotorway RI-162 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Brian C. Geoffrion - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 12, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: NONE, Atwater, OH - Destination: NONE, Medina, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 6, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 515 total, 456 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CAK, 25 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 20040229012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040229012889A), Feb 29, 2004: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Medina, OH, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot report hearing a pop and a loud bang followed by strong vibration. While enroute heading westbound at about 1100 AGL over Medina, OH. Pilot… 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.