# NTSB WPR13LA360: Versteeg Helicycle, N234RV, Richland, WA, August 5, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2013, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Richland, WA - Coordinates: 46.303333, -119.302497 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3033&lon=-119.3025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 7, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87690 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA360 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87690/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87690 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA360 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain helicycle control during hover due to an inadvertent control input. ## 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: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Physical characteristic: physical limitation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011030): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot; cases with it: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011030/cases.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02011030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-hover: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05630TF), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in a hover about 10 feet above the ground, the helicycle began to spin right and that he was unable to stop the rotation. Subsequently, the helicycle struck a hangar with its tail and rolled over on its left side. The pilot reported that his right ankle was wrapped in a brace due to a recent injury and that, because of this brace, he inadvertently input pressure on the right rudder control input, which caused the helicycle to rotate right. The ankle brace prevented him from noticing the right rudder control input in a timely manner. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the helicycle that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2013, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built Versteeg Helicycle, N234RV, sustained substantial damage when it struck a hangar at the Richland Airport (RLD) Richland, Washington. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The pilot reported that while in a hover about ten feet above the ground, the aircraft began to spin to the right and he was unable to stop the rotation. Subsequently, it struck a hangar with its tail and rolled over on its left side. Postaccident examination of the aircraft by the pilot revealed that the main rotor and tail rotor systems were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation. During a postaccident telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that his right ankle was wrapped in a brace due to a recent injury. He further reported that he inadvertently inputted pressure on the right rudder pedal that caused the helicopter to rotate. The ankle brace and wrapping prevented him from noticing his right rudder control input in a timely manner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N234RV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N234RV-2014-03-10), registration cancelled 2014-03-10, S/N 2-22, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VERSTEEG HELICYCLE - Registry model: [Versteeg Robert H JR HELICYCLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/versteeg-robert-h-jr-helicycle) (registry code 05630TF) (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: 2-22 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Solar GPU 160 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 3, 2013 - Departed: RLD, Richland, WA - Destination: RLD, Richland, WA - Airport: RLD, Richland ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 4, 2011; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PSC, 8 nm away ## 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 20130805014769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130805014769A), Aug 5, 2013: Versteeg Robert H Jr HELICYCLE, Richland, WA, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that while in a hover about ten feet above the ground, the helicopter began to spin to the right and he was unable to stop the rotation.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87690. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412978&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-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.