# NTSB SEA87LA075: Verbeek Rotorway, N32415, Redmond, WA, April 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 5, 1987, 13:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Redmond, WA
- Coordinates: 47.739482, -122.19976 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7395&lon=-122.1998&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 40607
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA87LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40607/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA87LA075

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - miscellaneous - failure,partial (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
  - autorotation - performed, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE AT CRUISE THE ACFT DEVELOPED A VIBRATION AND NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A POWER LOS.  THE PLT THEN ENTERED INTO AN AUTOROTATION AND LANDED ONTO A ROUGH FIELD.  THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD AND THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. DURING ENGINE INSPECTION THE DRIVE PULLEY WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N32415](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32415-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N 3031, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VERBEEK ROTORWAY
- Registry model: [Verbeek Phil ROTORWAY EXEC](https://openairdocs.org/model/verbeek-phil-rotorway-exec) (registry code 13017BC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotorway RW-145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotorway-rw-145-series) (registry code 55005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number: 3031
- Airframe hours: 211
- Engines: ROTORWAY RW145 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Phil Verbeek
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 3, 1986, 57 hours before
- Departed: BOTHEL, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 203 total, 203 in this make and model, 187 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19870405008389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870405008389A), Apr 5, 1987: Amtr ROTORWAYEXEC, Redmond, WA, Substantial damage. Power loss. Made an autorotation onto a rough field. Hard landing. Rolled onto its side. Faulty main drive pulley.

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.

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