# NTSB WPR12CA344: Rotorway Exec, N156RW, Colville, WA, August 5, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 5, 2012, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Colville, WA - Coordinates: 48.543888, -117.883888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.5439&lon=-117.8839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84576 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA344 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84576/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84576 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA344 ## Probable cause The pilot's lack of experience in the helicopter, which resulted in his failure to maintain ground clearance during the taxi hover, followed by inadvertent ground contact and rollover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056160Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=056160Z), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=056160Z), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=056160Z), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) (defining event); cases with it: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056160Z), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot with an airplane single-engine land rating was learning to fly his son's experimental amateur-built helicopter and had accumulated about 20 hours in type. His plan for the day was to conduct solo hover practice. After about 20 minutes of hover practice on a grass runway at the non-towered airport, he began hover-taxiing the helicopter back to its hangar. As he approached the hangar area, he realized that the helicopter had excessive speed for an upcoming turn, and the pilot tried to slow the helicopter. However, instead of just decelerating, the helicopter settled to the ground. At the time the helicopter contacted the ground, it had some lateral translation. One of the skids caught on the ground, and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. The pilot shut down the helicopter and extracted himself. The main rotor blades, tailboom, and one skid were substantially damaged, and the pilot was uninjured. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation and that his inexperience in the helicopter resulted in his inability to control it during the taxi. ## Factual narrative The private pilot with an airplane single-engine land rating was learning to fly his son's experimental amateur-built helicopter, and had accumulated about 20 hours in type. His plan for the day was to conduct solo hover practice. After about 20 minutes of hover practice on a grass runway at the non-towered airport, he began hover-taxiing the helicopter back to its hangar. As he approached the hangar area, he realized that the helicopter had excessive speed for an upcoming turn, and the pilot tried to slow the helicopter down. However, instead of just decelerating, the helicopter settled to the ground. At the time the helicopter contacted the ground, it had some lateral translation. One of the skids caught on the ground, and the helicopter rolled over onto its left side. The pilot shut down the helicopter and extracted himself. The main rotors, tail boom, and one skid were substantially damaged, but the pilot was uninjured. The pilot stated that there were no pre-event mechanical problems or abnormalities with the helicopter, and that his inexperience in the helicopter was the reason for the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N156RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N156RW-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 1001, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROTORWAY EXEC (90) - Registry model: [Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90](https://openairdocs.org/model/mitchell-robert-e-rotorway-exec-90) (registry code 056160Z) (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: 1001 - Airframe hours: 85 - Engines: Rotorway R1 162 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 12, 2011 - Departed: 63S, Colville, WA - Destination: 63S, Colville, WA - Airport: 63S, Colville Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 23, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 605 total, 21 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F ## 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 20120805015009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120805015009A), Aug 5, 2012: Mitchell Robert E ROTORWAY EXEC 90, Colville, WA, Substantial damage. The private pilot was rated in airplane single engine land, but had only student privileges in helicopters. This experimental helicopter received substantial… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84576. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376614&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40376616&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.