# NTSB WPR10CA023: Boykin Stephen Vance Rotorway E, N496SB, Meiners Oaks, CA, October 16, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 16, 2009, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Meiners Oaks, CA
- Coordinates: 34.449722, -119.275276 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4497&lon=-119.2753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74926
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA023
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74926/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74926
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA023

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper preflight planning which resulted in a takeoff with a tailwind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Boykin Stephen Vance ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05621LT), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boykin Stephen Vance ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=05621LT), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Boykin Stephen Vance ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05621LT), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Boykin Stephen Vance ROTORWAY EXEC 162F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05621LT), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that he completed an emergency off-airport landing, in mountainous terrain, to avoid poor weather and fog during a cross-country flight in the single engine helicopter. He reported that he sat in position for about forty minutes to burn off fuel and "…lighten the aircraft." The pilot then lifted off and repositioned the helicopter to a nearby dirt road. The pilot sat in position for an additional hour to "burn off as much fuel as I could to lighten the ship." The pilot departed a second time; however, during the takeoff the helicopter "didn't have enough lift" and subsequently settled and collided with the terrain. The pilot reported that he thought he was taking off into the wind, instead he took off with a tailwind. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom assembly. No preimpact mechanical failures were reported.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot reported that he completed an emergency off-airport landing, in mountainous terrain, to avoid poor weather and fog during a cross-country flight in the single engine helicopter. He reported that he sat in position for about forty minutes to burn off fuel and "…lighten the aircraft." The pilot then lifted off and repositioned the helicopter to a nearby dirt road. The pilot sat in position for an additional hour to "burn off as much fuel as I could to lighten the ship." The pilot departed a second time; however, during the takeoff the helicopter "didn't have enough lift" and subsequently settled and collided with the terrain. The pilot reported that he thought he was taking off into the wind, instead he took off with a tailwind. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom assembly. No preimpact mechanical failures were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N496SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N496SB), registered now, S/N 6992, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOYKIN STEPHEN VANCE ROTORWAY E
- 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: 107
- Engines: Solar T-63-T 150 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Boykin Stephen V
- Registered owner: Boykin Stephen V
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 30, 2009
- Departed: Meiners Oaks, CA
- Destination: San Luis Obispo, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 62 in this make and model, 91 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 22 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F

## 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 SEA07CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07CA084), Mar 25, 2007: Boykin Rotorway Exec 162F (N496SB), Camarillo, CA, substantial damage. 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.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74926. 543 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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