- Date
- October 5, 2013, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Nampa, ID
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N104BJSiemens Rotorway Exec 162F
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Flight control sys malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20131005018459A
- Case key
- 88175
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A flight control malfunction during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined. No follow-up examination was conducted due to a lapse in agency funding and subsequent government shutdown.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 500 feet above ground level (agl), the cyclic control seemed to require a higher than normal input. He changed speed, however, that seemed to make it worse. The pilot was over a field and entered a 180 degree autorotation to lose altitude. At the completion of the autorotation, forward velocity had dissipated and the lateral movement to the left increased even with full right cyclic input. The helicopter collided with trees that bordered the field and subsequently rolled over onto its left side after touchdown. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, about 500 feet above ground level (agl), the cyclic control seemed to require a higher than normal input. He changed speed, however, that seemed to make it worse. The pilot was over a field and entered a 180 degree autorotation to lose altitude. At the completion of the autorotation, forward velocity had dissipated and the lateral movement to the left increased even with full right cyclic input. The helicopter collided with trees that bordered the field and subsequently rolled over onto its left side after touchdown. The fuselage and tailboom were substantially damaged.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N104BJ
- Reported as
- Siemens Rotorway Exec 162F (F)
- Category
- Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 6194
- Built
- 1997
- Engine
- Rotorway RI 162F, 150 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
- Destination
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight engineer, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 19, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 30,000 total · 100 in this make and model · 22,000 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- EUL, 7 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 15, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 643 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N104BJ · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.