# NTSB NYC08CA132: Rotorway 162F, N831MS, Cartersville, GA, March 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 9, 2008, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cartersville, GA - Coordinates: 34.123054, -84.848609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1231&lon=-84.8486&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67656/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA132 ## Probable cause The owner/builder's improper installation of the foot pedal scissor beam, which resulted in its failure during hover flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Rotorcraft flight control: tail rotor control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md?model=056235A), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046720/cases.md) - [Maintenance: installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md?model=056235A), [All aircraft, 371 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056235A), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056235A), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner/builder of the Rotorway 162F was performing pedal turns while conducting initial flight tests. During a turn the left pedal "popped" and "fell away." He immediately dropped the collective and landed hard, causing significant damage to the tail boom. He inspected the helicopter and discovered the foot pedal scissor beam had pulled away from its retaining bolt. The scissor beam was designed to be sandwiched between two nylon pivot bushings, and retained by an aluminum bushing and bolt. During the construction phase he inadvertently mounted the aluminum bushing on the inside of the scissor beam, allowing the beam to be pulled past the mounting bolt when pressure was applied. ## Factual narrative The owner/builder of the Rotorway 162F was performing pedal turns while conducting initial flight tests. During a turn the left pedal "popped" and "fell away." He immediately dropped the collective and landed hard, causing significant damage to the tail boom. He inspected the helicopter and discovered the foot pedal scissor beam had pulled away from its retaining bolt. The scissor beam was designed to be sandwiched between two nylon pivot bushings, and retained by an aluminum bushing and bolt. During the construction phase he inadvertently mounted the aluminum bushing on the inside of the scissor beam, allowing the beam to be pulled past the mounting bolt when pressure was applied. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N831MS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N831MS-2019-01-10), registration cancelled 2019-01-10, S/N 6887, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rotorway 162F - Registry model: [Seymour Robert M ROTORWAY 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/seymour-robert-m-rotorway-162f) (registry code 056235A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotorway RI-162F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-ri-162f) (registry code 55007, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 6887 - Airframe hours: 1 - Engines: Rotorway RI162F 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert M. Seymour - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2008, 1 hours before - Departed: VPC, Cartersville, GA - Airport: VPC, Cartersville ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 10 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: VPC ## 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 20080309836509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080309836509A), Mar 9, 2008: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Cartersville, GA, Substantial damage. (-23)A call was received on 03/11/2008 at 1400 hrs from [privacy data omitted] reporting that his rotorway 162F helicopter had sustained structural damage… ## Other investigations on N831MS (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA10CA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA242), Apr 23, 2010: Seymour Robert M Rotorway 162F (N831MS), Dallas, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during landing resulting in a roll over. 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.