# NTSB SEA07CA084: Boykin Rotorway Exec 162F, N496SB, Camarillo, CA, March 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 25, 2007, 08:55 local (15:55 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA - Coordinates: 34.21389, -119.094444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2139&lon=-119.0944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65518 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07CA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65518/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain main rotor RPM resulting in an uncontrolled descent to a hard landing. A contributing factor was his lack of experience in make and model of aircraft. ## 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 - rotor rpm - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that this was his first solo flight in this make and model helicopter. He said he did weight and balance calculations before performing a preflight inspection of the aircraft. The pilot said that he performed a ground taxi, and hovered for 5 to 10 minutes, with pedal turns, to check the control capability. He flew to an open field and noted a slight drift to the left. He returned to the airport and made a normal approach to the helipad followed by a normal flare. The aircraft then started to drift to the left and would not correct with right cyclic; while trying to correct the left drift with right cyclic, the cyclic became limited by his leg and the confines of the cockpit. During an attempted go around, the pilot said that his airspeed had decreased to zero, and his rotor RPM had dropped. He said the helicopter began to descend and landed hard on the left forward skid. Subsequently the helicopter rolled onto its left side. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2007, at approximately 0855 Pacific daylight time, a Boykin Rotorway Exec 162F experimental, homebuilt helicopter, N496SB, was substantially damaged when it landed hard and rolled onto its left side. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The helicopter was being operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local, personal flight that originated at approximately 0800. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that this was his first solo flight in this make and model helicopter. He said he did weight and balance calculations before performing a preflight inspection of the aircraft. The pilot said that he performed a ground taxi, and hovered for 5 to 10 minutes, with pedal turns, to check the control capability. He flew to an open field and noted a slight drift to the left. He returned to the airport and made a normal approach to the helipad followed by a normal flare. The aircraft then started to drift to the left and would not correct with right cyclic; while trying to correct the left drift with right cyclic, the cyclic became limited by his leg and the confines of the cockpit. During an attempted go around, the pilot said that his airspeed had decreased to zero, and his rotor RPM had dropped. He said the helicopter began to descend and landed hard on the left forward skid. Subsequently the helicopter rolled onto its left side. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N496SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N496SB), registered now, S/N 6992, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boykin Rotorway Exec 162F - Registry model: [Boykin Stephen Vance ROTORWAY EXEC 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/boykin-stephen-vance-rotorway-exec-162f) (registry code 05621LT) (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: 6992 - Airframe hours: 69 - Engines: Rotorway Exec 162F 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen V. Boykin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 1, 2006, 69 hours before - Departed: CMA, Camarillo, CA - Destination: CMA - Airport: CMA, Camarillo Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; flight hours: 2,303 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: CMA ## 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 20070325003829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070325003829A), Mar 25, 2007: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Camarillo, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 25th 2007, N496SB an amateur built rotorway exec 162F helicopter crashed during an attempted landing at Camarillo Airport (cma). The pilot and… ## Other investigations on N496SB (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 WPR10CA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA023), Oct 16, 2009: Boykin Stephen Vance Rotorway E (N496SB), Meiners Oaks, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight planning which resulted in a takeoff with a tailwind. 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.