- Date
- August 29, 2023, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV · KRTS
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N53GRYamaha Fazer SAR
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-hover: Loss of control in flight
- 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
- 20230829019159A
- Case key
- 192962
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 operator’s incorrect input into the ground station controller, resulting in a loss of control during flight and subsequent impact with terrain.
Findings · 3
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 operator of the uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) reported that, he and an external emergency safety pilot were conducting an engineering test flight to fine tune the autopilot’s tail rotor yaw limits. While hovering at 50 ft agl, the operator incorrectly input a full left tail rotor command, causing the UAS to begin a rapid counterclockwise rotation. The auto pilot was unable to maintain a level attitude or stabilize the UAS during the rotation, and descended uncontrollably. The safety pilot attempted to stabilize the UAS manually, using the emergency RC controller, to no avail. The UAS impacted the surface, resulting in substantial damage to the tailboom. The operator of the UAS reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53GR
- Reported as
- Yamaha Fazer SAR
- Category
- Helicopter, unmanned
- Serial number
- L36-2-000113
- Built
- 2021
- Airframe hours
- 144
- Engine
- Yamaha Motor Fazer R, 27 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special flight (Special); Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 6, 2023 · 42.9 hours before
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- KRTS · Reno/Stead
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 5, 2022
- Seat
- None
- Flight hours
- 23,578 total · 112 in this make and model · 4,860 as pilot in command
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 3, 2023
- Seat
- None
- Flight hours
- 58 total · 296 in this make and model · 13 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 8 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.16 inHg
- Observed at
- KRTS
- METAR
- METAR KRTS 291555Z AUTO 17008G14KT 10SM CLR 24/M05 A3016
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.3 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.