Upchurch ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE N70289
25 March 1989 · Lugoff, South Carolina, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 25 March 1989 at about 16:00 local time, a Upchurch ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE registered N70289, operated by Joseph M. Upchurch, was involved in an accident near Lugoff, South Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 16:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lugoff, South Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private
- Coordinates
- 34.2194, -80.6798
- Aircraft
- Upchurch ROTORWAY EXECUTIVE
- Registration
- N70289
- Category
- Helicopter
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Joseph M. Upchurch
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lugoff → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL89DLG01
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
IMPROPER EVALUATION OF EXISTING CONDITIONS DURING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION RESULTING IN A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER DUE TO DRAG FROM AN IMBEDDED LEFT SKID.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF TO A HOVER AS A RESULT OF THE LEFT SKID BEING SLIGHTLY EMBEDDED IN SOFT EARTH. THE ROTORS CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE GROUND CAUSING A DYNAMIC ROLLOVER. THE 21-HOUR STUDENT PILOT/BUILDER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Aug 1989 | Cessna 152 | York, South Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 May 1989 | Cessna 182A | Lugoff, South Carolina, United States | Lugoff Para-Flite Club, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Champion 7GCBC | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | Barnstormers FLT. Signs, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1989 | Piper PA28-140 | Holly Hill, South Carolina, United States | John J. Kaiser | No injuries | - |
| 16 Jul 1989 | Cessna P210N | Jackson, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Aug 1989 | Cessna 172L | N Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |