# NTSB NYC08CA252: Buschmann Robert E Helicycle, N3375C, Stuart, FL, July 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 19, 2008, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Stuart, FL - Coordinates: 27.181667, -80.221664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1817&lon=-80.2217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08CA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68466/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68466 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08CA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to take off with a known discrepancy. Contributing to the accident was spilled fuel on the drive belts. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05617BH), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Tail rotor drive system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046500): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046500/cases.md?model=05617BH), [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046500/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05617BH), [All aircraft, 1,696 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05617BH), [All aircraft, 995 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242) (defining event); cases with it: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md?model=05617BH), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/242/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the student pilot of the amateur-built helicycle, he made an uneventful approach to a taxiway with a calm wind. About 1 foot above the ground, the nose started yawing to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to no effect, but was able to land the helicopter without incident. All instrument readings were normal and there were no unusual vibrations. Then, in an effort to move the helicopter from the taxiway, the pilot entered into a hover and applied right pedal to turn. The pilot continued raising the collective, and applied left pedal to stop the right turn; however, the helicopter would not stop turning. After the pilot lowered the collective the right skid hit the ground and collapsed, the rotor blades impacted the ground, and the lower portion of the vertical stabilizer was bent. The pilot subsequently determined that a fuel spill on the helicopter's drive belts resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the amateur-built Helicycle, he made an uneventful approach to a taxiway during calm winds. About 1 foot above the ground, the nose started yawing to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to no effect, but was able to land the helicopter without incident. All instrument readings were normal, and there were no unusual vibrations. The pilot then felt he had to move the helicopter from the taxiway, lifted it into a hover, and applied right pedal to turn it. The pilot continued raising the collective, and applied left pedal to stop the right turn; however, the turning would not stop. The pilot then lowered the collective, the right skid hit the ground and collapsed, the rotor blades impacted the ground, and the vertical stabilizer was damaged. The pilot held a student pilot certificate for helicopters, but was also a certificated commercial pilot and flight instructor for single-engine and multiengine airplanes. The pilot subsequently determined that a fuel spill on the helicopter's drive belts resulted in a loss of tail rotor effectiveness. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3375C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3375C-2021-07-31), registration cancelled 2021-07-31, S/N 26 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BUSCHMANN ROBERT E HELICYCLE - Registry model: [Buschmann Robert E HELICYCLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/buschmann-robert-e-helicycle) (registry code 05617BH) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: 26 - Airframe hours: 82 - Engines: Solar T62-T32 100 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: R & J Enterprises Of North Carolina Inc - Registered owner: R & J Enterprises Of North Carolina Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LNA, Lantana, FL - Destination: SUA, Stuart, FL - Airport: SUA, Witham Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: minor; student, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; seat: single; flight hours: 3,485 total, 2 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 81 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: SUA ## 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 20080719855159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080719855159A), Jul 19, 2008: Busch HELICYCLE, Stuart, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed (lna) lantana airport, Florida, on a cross country flight to (sua) Stuart, Florida on July 19, 2008 at approximately 10:40 am (student… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68466. 461 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40307899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Report (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40308416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF 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.