# NTSB SEA02LA115: Seattle Aerotech Helipower 2500, N13RM, Arlington, WA, June 27, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2002, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.160831, -122.158889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1608&lon=-122.1589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55078/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55078 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA115 ## Probable cause Aircraft control not maintained during a run-on landing. A vibration of unknown origin was a factor in the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - misc rotorcraft - vibration (contributing factor) - run on landing - performed, pilot in command - Nose down, landing - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that on the accident flight, he initially performed a hover and 360-degree pedal turn without problems. He stated that he then entered forward flight at 10 MPH, and then transitioned back to a hover at 3 feet above ground level (AGL), again without problems. He reported that he then turned around and entered forward flight in the opposite direction at 6 feet AGL and 20 MPH, again without problems. He stated that he then turned around again and entered forward flight at 30 MPH. He reported that as he decelerated from 30 MPH back toward a hover, the helicopter experienced a violent vibration of sufficient severity that he felt an immediate run-on landing was necessary. During the run-on landing, the helicopter nosed down, the forward blade struck the ground and the aft blade severed the helicopter's tail boom. The pilot reported that he then saw a flash in the helicopter's engine compartment in his peripheral vision, and thus decided to egress the helicopter immediately. After the pilot egressed, the helicopter's fuel tank caught fire and the helicopter burned. Post accident examination of the helicopter by personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration disclosed no evidence as to the cause of the vibration or its origin. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2002, approximately 1554 Pacific daylight time, a Seattle Aerotech Helipower 2500 experimental helicopter, N13RM, was substantially damaged during an emergency run-on landing and subsequently destroyed by fire following the rollover, which occurred during a 14 CFR 91 developmental test flight at Arlington, Washington. The commercial pilot, who was the helicopter's sole occupant, escaped the helicopter prior to the fire encroaching on the cockpit area and was not injured in the accident. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at Arlington at 1555, and no flight plan had been filed. According to the FAA registry, the accident helicopter had received its initial airworthiness certification on May 2, 2002. In an initial telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated that the helicopter design, for which the accident helicopter was the sole prototype, is being developed by Seattle Aerotech for marketing as a kit. He reported that at the time of the accident, the helicopter had accumulated approximately 6 hours of hovering flight time and 28 hours of engine run time. The pilot reported that the flight test work being conducted at the time of the accident was focused on the helicopter's transition between hovering and forward flight. He stated that the helicopter had been experiencing significant vertical vibration when entering translational lift, and that in response to this problem, tracking equipment had been installed on the accident helicopter and the "B" blade of the helicopter's 2-blade main rotor had been adjusted upward 1/4 inch. The pilot reported that on the accident flight, he initially performed a hover and 360-degree pedal turn without problems. He stated that he then entered forward flight at 10 MPH, and then transitioned back to a hover at 3 feet above ground level (AGL), again without problems. He reported that he then turned around and entered forward flight in the opposite direction at 6 feet AGL and 20 MPH, again without problems. He stated that he then turned around again and entered forward flight at 30 MPH. He reported that as he decelerated from 30 MPH back toward a hover, the helicopter experienced a violent vibration of sufficient severity that he felt an immediate run-on landing was necessary. During the run-on landing, the helicopter nosed down, the forward blade struck the ground and the aft blade severed the helicopter's tail boom. The pilot reported that he then saw a flash in the helicopter's engine compartment in his peripheral vision, and thus decided to egress the helicopter immediately. After the pilot egressed, the helicopter's fuel tank caught fire and the helicopter burned. Post accident examination of the helicopter by personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration disclosed no evidence as to the cause of the vibration or its origin. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13RM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13RM-2005-06-20), registration cancelled 2005-06-20, S/N 0101, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Seattle Aerotech Helipower 2500 - Registry model: [Seattle Aerotech HELIPOWER 2500](https://openairdocs.org/model/seattle-aerotech-helipower-2500) (registry code 05611TA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: Subaru 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: General Helicopter, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: AWO, ARLINGTON, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 15, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 3,106 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,811 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: AWO ## 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 20020627018449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020627018449A), Jun 27, 2002: Amtr HELIPWER2500, Arlington, WA, Destroyed. (-23) The accident aircraft was properly registered, and a FAA form 8130-7 (special airworthiness certificate) with research and development experimental… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55078. 448 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 361 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 2, .PDF, 87 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448262&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.