- Date
- November 22, 2021, 15:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place
- Scio, OR · PVT Residence
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N102LDElvin Jack R JR Rotorway Exec 162F
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Flight control sys malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20211122019759A
- Case key
- 104300
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
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot’s improper maintenance on the tail rotor assembly, which resulted in the loss of control and roll over.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
The pilot of the experimental helicopter reported that, he had performed maintenance on the tail rotor assembly. While checking the blade tracking and balance in a hover, a pitch change link retention bolt lost torque and separated from the tail rotor slide assembly, which resulted in the loss of control and subsequent rollover. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tailboom, and main rotor system. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter and that he failed to ensure the maintenance was performed correctly.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N102LD
- Reported as
- Elvin Jack R JR Rotorway Exec 162F
- Category
- Helicopter, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1001
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 360
- Engine
- Ama/Expr 162F, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Operator
- Jack R Elvin JR
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 25, 2021
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- 25OR · Jack's Heliport
- Equipment
- None
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
- 74
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Last flight review
- April 7, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,550 total · 350 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.08 inHg
- Observed at
- KCVO, 21 nm away
- METAR
- KCVO 222256Z AUTO 33003KT 10SM OVC080 09/06 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP189 T00890056
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.8 MB 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.